BfSS! 


HISTORY 


OF   THE 


UNITED  STATES  CAVALRY, 


FROM  THE  FORMATION  OF  THE  FEDERAL  GOVERNMENT 
TO  THE  1ST  OF  JUNE,  1863, 


TO    WHICH   IS   ADDED 


A  LIST  OF  ALL  OF  THE   CAVALRY  REGIMENTS,  WITH  THE  NAMES  OF 

THEIR  COMMANDERS,  WHICH  HAVE  BEEN  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES 

SERVICE  SINCE  THE  BREAKING  OUT  OF  THE  REBELLION. 


BY    ALBERT    G.   BRACKETT, 

MAJOR  FIRST  UNITED  STATES  CAVALRY ;   COLONEL,  NINTH  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEER  CAVALRY '. 

LATE    CHIEF    OF    CAVALRY    OF    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    MISSOURI;    SPECIAL 

INSPECTOR  OF  CAVALRY,  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND. 


NEW    YORK: 

HARPER    &    BROTHERS,    PUBLISHERS, 

FRANKLIN     SQUARE. 
1865. 


LlBBAniAK'3  FUuO 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight 
hundred,  and  sixty-five,  by 

HARPER   &   BROTHERS, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Southern  District  of 
New  York. 


THIS   BOOK 


l&espectf ulls   BetifcatetJ 


SURGEON    JOSEPH    B.   BROWN, 

UNITED    STATES    ARMY, 


MAJOR  CHAUNCEY  P.  E.  JOHNSON, 

PAYMASTER   UNITED    STATES    ARMY. 


THE    AUTHOR. 


PREFACE. 


THE  Cavalry  Service  in  the  United  States  of  America 
has  never  been  properly  appreciated,  and  that  is  my  rea 
son  for  writing  this  book.  I  have  served  several  years 
in  the  Cavalry,  \nd  know  that  our  mounted  men  have 
not  half  as  many  friends  as  they  ought  to  have,  nor  as 
many  as  they  would  have  if  they  exerted  themselves  a 
little  more  in  recounting  their  many  good  deeds.  We 
have  had  among  us  some  noble  men  and  excellent  sol 
diers  ;  and  while  our  countrymen  point  with  pride  to  the 
names  of  Covington,  Johnson,  Coffee,  Harney,  Sumner, 
Kearney,  McClellan,  Thomas,  Sedgwick,  and  Hunter,  we 
can  feel  that  it  was  in  our  corps  they  received  much  of 
their  best  training. 

Our  mounted  force  during  the  rebellion  is  far  larger 
than  any  which  has  ever  belonged  to  any  nation  on  earth ; 
and  as  time  moves  on,  and  our  men  become  more  expe 
rienced,  their  deeds  will  become  brighter  and  their  fame 
more  extended.  Our  Cavalry  soldiers  are  becoming  bet 
ter  every  year,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  the  finishing 
blows  to  the  rebellion  will  be  dealt  by  them. 


viii  Preface. 

For  a  long  time  I  have  thought  that  a  History  of  the 
United  States  Cavalry  Service  ought  to  be  written.  I 
thought  that  such  a  work  would  not  only  be  interesting 
to  the  public,  but  would  be  doing  justice  to  the  officers 
and  soldiers  who  belonged  to  it.  Thinking  thus,  and 
seeing  that  no  person  had  undertaken  the  task,  I  took  it 
upon  myself  to  do  it.  So  far  as  I  know,  no  history  of 
our  Cavalry  service  has  ever  been  written  up  to  this  time. 
I  know  my  work  has  many  imperfections,  as,  while  writ 
ing  it,  I  have  been  in  active  campaign  against  the  rebels 
at  Atlanta  and  elsewhere,  and  have  not  been  able  to  pro 
cure  the  necessary  books  and  papers  to  make  as  thorough 
and  complete  a  work  of  it  as  I  could  have  desired ;  still, 
it  contains  many  truths  which  have  been  hidden  from 
the  public,  and  does  justice  to  our  horsemen,  who,  in  too 
many  cases,  have  been  entirely  overlooked. 

My  descriptions  of  fights  and  skirmishes,  in  many  in 
stances,  may  appear  too  brief  and  unsatisfactory;  to  which 
I  can  only  reply  that  very  many  actions,  which  appear 
of  great  importance  to  the  actors,  are  not  of  much  general 
interest.  On  the  other  hand,  where  our  Cavalry  men 
have  done  the  most  brilliant  things,  I  regret  to  say  that 
I  have  been  unable,  in  some  cases,  to  obtain  truthful  and 
detailed  accounts  with  which  to  do  them  full  justice. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

First  Mounted  Force  authorized  by  Government. — Organized  in  1793. — 
Battle  of  Fort  Recovery. — Battle  of  Maumee. Rapids. —Cavalry  dis 
banded  in  1802. — Regiment  of  Light  Dragoons  raised  in  1808. — Cav 
alry  at  the  Battle  of  Tippecanoe. — Second  Regiment  of  Light  Dragoons 
raised  in  1812. — Battle  on  the  Mississinewa. — War  with  Great  Britain. 
— Death  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Backus  at  Sackett's  Harbor. — Battle 
of  Stony  Creek.  —  Colonel  R.  M.  Johnson's  Kentucky  Cavalry  at  the 
Battle  of  the  Thames. — Covington's  Death. — The  Creek  War. — Jack 
son's  Mounted  Men. — The  two  Regiments  consolidated. — Cavalry  at 
Lundy's  Lane  and  New  Orleans. — Close  of  the  War  with  Great  Britain. 
— Dragoon  Regiment  disbanded Page  13 

CHAPTER  II. 

Battalion  of  Mounted  Rangers  raised  in  1832. — The  Black  Hawk  War. — 
First  Regiment  of  Dragoons  formed  in  1833. — Officers  and  Organiza 
tion. — Campaign  west  of  the  Mississippi.— Death  of  Lieutenant  Izard. 
— Second  Dragoons  formed  in  1836. — The  Florida  War. — Harney's 
Fight  on  the  Carloosahatchee ;  Sampson's  Account  of  it.  —  Soldier's 
Life. — "The  Dragoon  bold." — Second  Dragoons  dismounted  and  re 
mounted. — Tactics. — Services  of  the  Dragoons. — Close  of  the  Florida 
War. — Wild  Cat's  Story. — Dragoon  Uniform 3-i 

CHAPTER  III. 

The  Mexican  War. — Thornton's  Capture. — Lieutenant  Mason  killed. — 
Palo  Alto. — Resaca  de  la  Palma. — May's  Charge. — Rio  Grande  cross 
ed. — Volunteer  Cavalry  Regiments. — Regiment  of  Mounted  Riflemen 
ordered  to  be  raised,  1846.  —  Officers.  — Monterey.  —  Cavalry  Opera 
tions  in  California. — Battle  of  San  Pascual. — Captains  Johnson  and 
Moore,  and  Lieutenant  Hammond  killed.  —  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fre 
mont 53 

A  2 


x  Contents. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Mexican  Success  at  Encarnacion. — Buena  Vista. — Third  Regiment  of 
Dragoons  formed  in  1847. — Officers. — Harney's  Cavalry  Fight  near 
Vera  Cruz. — Cerro  Gordo. — San  Juan  de  los  Llanos. — Mexican  Cav 
alry. — Cavalry  Operations  near  the  City  of  Mexico. — Harney's  Report. 
— Sumner's  Report Page  78 

CHAPTER  V.    - 

Doniphan's  March  to  Chihuahua. — Affair  at  Sacramento. — Taos. — Fight 
at  Huamantla. — Captain  Walker  killed. — Cavalry  action  at  Atlixco. — 
The  Pass  of  Galaxara. — General  Lane's  Night  March  after  General 
Santa  Anna. — Orizaba. — Padre  Jarauta. — Agua  Fria. — Fight  at  Santa 
Cruz  de  los  Resales. — Royall's  Fight  with  Indians. — Third  Regiment 
of  Dragoons  disbanded,  1848 104 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Close  of  the  Mexican  War. — Cookc's  March  to  California. — Mounted 
Rifle  Regiment  sent  to  Oregon. — Indian  Depredations. — Fights  in 
Texas. — Steen's  Pursuit  of  Indians. — Death  of  Colonel  Mason. — Lieu 
tenant  Stuart  killed. — Captain  Van  Buren  killed. — Fights  with  the 
Apaches. — Davidson's  Fight. — Affair  in  the  Guadelupe  Mountains. — 
Captain  Stanton  killed 123 

CHAPTER  VII. 

The  First  and  Second  Regiments  of  Cavalry  ordered  to  be  raised,  1855. 
— Officers. — Colonel  E.  V.  Sumner. — Colonel  A.  S.  Johnston. — Har 
ney's  Indian  Fight  on  the  Blue  Water. — Distinctions  between  Heavy 
and  Light  Cavalry. — Arms  of  the  Dragoons,  Cavalry,  and  Mounted  Ri 
flemen. — Saddles. — Grooming. — Marching. — Riding.  — Shoeing. .  140 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  First  Cavalry  in  Kansas. — March  of  the  Second  Cavalry  to  Texas. — 
Skirmishes  with  the  Indians  of  Texas. — Skirmishes  in  Oregon  and  New 
Mexico. — Indian  Fights. — Captain  Gibbs  wounded. — Lieutenant  B. 
F.  Davis  wounded. — Lieutenant  John  B.  Hood's  Fight  with  the  Ca- 
manches. — Colonel  Sumner's  Fight  with  the  Cheyennes. — Mormon 
Troubles. — Sufferings  of  the  Cavalry. — Close  of  the  Mormon  Difficul 
ties...  ..  1G8 


Contents.  xi 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Steptoe's  Defeat,  and  Death  of  Captain  Taylor  and  Lieutenant  Gaston. — 
Battle  of  the  Four  Lakes,  Oregon. — Battle  at  the  Witchita  Village, 
Texas. — Lieutenant  Van  Camp  killed. — Indian  Skirmishes  in  1858. — 
Camels  used  for  Scouting  in  Texas. — An  Officer's  Life  on  the  Frontier. 
— Fight  in  the  Valley  of  the  Nescutunga Page  182 

CHAPTER  X. 

The  Cortinas  Troubles  in  Texas. — Captain  McLane  killed. — Battle  at 
Solomon's  Fork  of  the  Arkansas. — Skirmishes  with  Indians  in  1859 
and  1860. — Cortinas  Troubles  continued. — Commencement  of  the  Re 
bellion. — Twiggs's  Treason  in  Texas. — Escape  of  the  Second  Cavalry 
from  Texas. — The  Third  Regiment  of  Cavalry  added  to  the  Army, 
1861. — Its  Officers. — Resignations  among  Cavalry  Officers. — Crossing 
the  Potomac. — Cavalry  Affair  at  Fairfax  Court-house,  Virginia. — Bat 
tle  of  Blackburn's  Ford. — Battle  of  Bull  Run. — All  of  the  Mounted 
Regiments  consolidated  and  called  Cavalry 202 

CHAPTER  XI. 

The  Battle  of  Wilson's  Creek. — The  Fight  at  Lexington,  Missouri. — 
Fredericktown. — Zagonyi's  Charge  at  Springfield. — Cavalry  Regula 
tions. — Cavalry  Regiments  to  contain  twelve  Companies. — Mill  Spring. 
— Pea  Ridge.— Valverde. — Shiloh.— Cavalry  Operations  on  the  Pen 
insula. — Williamsburg. — Gaines's  Mill 220 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Fight  at  Lebanon,  Tennessee. — Curtis's  March  through  Arkansas. — Fight 
at  the  Waddell  Farm. — Fight  at  Stewart's  Plantation. — Fight  at  Cache 
River. — Fight  at  Jasper,  Tennessee. — Guerrilla  Skirmish  at  Memphis, 
Missouri. — The  Cavalry  under  General  Pope. — South  Mountain. — 
Antietam. — General  Sedgwick  wounded. — Harper's  Ferry. — luka. — 
Skirmishes. — Lieutenant  Colonel  Hogg  killed 237 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Pursuit  of  General  Stuart  by  Pleasanton's  Cavalry. — Fights  near  Lex 
ington,  Kentucky. — Skirmishes. — Expedition  into  Mississippi. — Fight 
near  Coffeville. — Lieutenant  Colonel  McCulloch  killed.— Cavalry  at 
Prairie  Grove.  —  Capture  of  Rebel  Cavalry  near  New  Haven,  Ken- 


xii  Contents. 

tucky.  —  Snicker's   Ferry,  Virginia.  —  The    Cavalry  at  Murfreesbor- 
ough Page  254 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Gallant  Fight  near  Barnesville,  Virginia. — Indian  Battle  in  Washington 
Territory. — Fight  near  Yorktown,  Virginia. — Major  Mudd  killed. — 
Skirmishes. — Cavalry  Fight  at  Kelly's  Ford. — Fight  at  Brcntwood, 
Tennessee. — Grierson's  Raid. — Lieutenant  Colonel  Blackburn  killed. — 
Battle  of  Fayetteville,  Arkansas 276 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Fight  at  Patterson,  Missouri. — Battle  at  Cape  Girardeau. — Rebels  cap 
tured  near  Franklin,  Tennessee. — Fight  at  Spottsylvania  Court-house. 
— Lieutenant  Colonel  Me  Vicar  killed. — Fight  near  Warrenton,  Vir 
ginia. — Stoneman's  Raid. — Kilpatrick's  Operations. — Davis's  Opera 
tions. — Cavalry  Skirmishes. — Cornyn's  Haid. — Promotions. — Cavalry 
Bureau. — Cavalry  Battle  at  Beverly's  Ford 299 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

A  List  of  Cavalry  Regiments  which  have  been  in  the  Service  of  the  Uni 
ted  States  during  the  great  Rebellion,  with  the  Names  of  the  Colonels 
or  Commanding  Officers 327 


ILLUSTKATIONS. 

Cavalry  Column  on  the  March Frontispiece. 

Battle  of  Resaca,  Mexican  War,  May  charging  with  his  Dragoons...  57 

Indian  Fight,  Battle  of  Four  Lakes 186 

Cavalry  Charge  at  Gaines's  Mill 234 

Battle  of  Kelly's  Ford 282 

Map  of  Grierson's  Raid •  291 

Map  of  the  Vicinity  of  Richmond 303 


HISTORY 

OF  THE 

UNITED   STATES   CAVALRY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

First  Mounted  Force  authorized  by  Government. — Organized  in  1793. — 
Battle  of  Fort  Recovery. — Battle  of  Maumee  Rapids.— Cavalry  dis 
banded  in  1802. — Regiment  of  Light  Dragoons  raised  in  1808. — Cav 
alry  at  the  Battle  of  Tippecanoe. — Second  Regiment  of  Light  Dragoons 
raised  in  1812. — Battle  on  the  Mississinewa. — War  with  Great  Britain. 
— Death  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Backus  at  Sackett's  Harbor. — Battle 
of  Stony  Creek.  —  Colonel  R.  M.  Johnson's  Kentucky  Cavalry  at  the 
Battle  of  the  Thames.— Covington's  Death.— The  Creek  War.— Jack 
son's  Mounted  Men. — The  two  Regiments  consolidated. — Cavalry  at 
Lundy's  Lane  and  New  Orleans. — Close  of  the  War  with  Great  Britain. 
— Dragoon  Regiment  disbanded. 

I  SHALL  attempt  to  write  the  History  of  the  United 
States  Cavalry  Service  under  the  present  government, 
from  the  inauguration  of  President  Washington  in  1789 
to  this  time,  to  show  its  rise  from  small  and  almost  insig 
nificant  beginnings,  until  it  has  become  one  of  the  most 
powerful  military  arms  the  world  has  ever  seen. 

It  is  not  my  intention  to  go  back  to  revolutionary  times 
to  recount  the  exploits  of  Lee's  and  Washington's  legions 
in  the  South,  or  of  Sheldon's  light  horse  in  the  East  dur 
ing  that  period,  but  to  giy?»  ^lear  view, of  what  has  oc- 


14  History  of  the 

curred  since  our  regular  army  has  been  established.  It 
would  be  impossible  for  me,  even  if  I  wished  to  do  so,  to 
give  a  history  of  the  doings  of  the  celebrated  partisan 
officers  before  alluded  to  j  and,  in  truth,  our  mounted  serv 
ice  in  the  Revolutionary  War  accomplished  no  very  not 
able  work,  and  seems  to  have  been  considered  as  a  sec 
ondary  matter. 

This  fact  holds  good  with  regard  to  the  second  war 
with  England;  and,  indeed,  the  cavalry  service  in  this 
country  was  looked  upon  as  comparatively  worthless  un 
til  a  recent  period. 

The  first  mounted  force  which  was  organized  under 
the  present  government  was  authorized  by  an  Act  of 
Congress  of  March  5th,  1792,  which  gave  the  President 
the  power  to  raise  at  his  discretion  a  "squadron"  of  cav 
alry  to  serve  for  three  years,  to  be  under  a  major  com 
mandant  of  cavalry.  The  squadron  was  made  up  of  four 
troops,  consisting  each  of  one  captain,  one  lieutenant,  one 
cornet,  six  sergeants,  six  corporals,  one  farrier,  one  sad 
dler,  one  trumpeter,  and  sixty-five  dragoons.  The  pay  al 
lowed  to  the  cavalry  soldiers,  or  light  dragoons,  for  these 
terms  were  at  that  time  used  synonymously,  was  not  such 
as  would  at  this  day  rouse  the  cupidity  of  our  people. 
The  major  commandant  received  fifty-five  dollars  per 
month,  captains  forty  dollars,  lieutenants  twenty-six  dol 
lars,'  cornets  twenty  dollars,  sergeants  six  dollars,  cor 
porals  five  dollars,  trumpeters  four  dollars,  and  privates 
three  dollars  per  month. 

This  corps,  under  Major  William  Winston,  of  Virginia, 
was  organized  at  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  summer 
of  1793,  and'in.'tke  autumn:  ofittiat  year  moved  to  Fort 


United  States  Cavalry.  15 

Eecovery,  in  Ohio.  There  were  some  officers  of  much 
promise  in  this  small  force,  among  whom,  conspicuous  for 
their  subsequent  usefulness,  were  Leonard  Covington,  of 
Maryland,  and  Solomon  Yan  Eensselaer,  of  New  York, 
both  of  whom  were  subalterns,  and  both  of  whom  ren 
dered  signal  service. 

This  handful  of  men  afterward  bore  an  honorable  part 
in  the  succeeding  campaigns.  The  defeat  of  General 
Harmar  in  1790,  and  of  General  St.  Clair  in  1791,  had 
emboldened  the  Indians  of  the  Northwest,  and  they  con 
sidered  themselves  able  to  overthrow  the  whites. 

It  was  reserved  for  Wayne  to  undeceive  them,  and  in 
the  victorious  defense  of  Fort  Eecovery,  on  the  30th  of 
June,  1794,  and  at  the  battle  of  Maumee  Eapids,  August 
20th,  1794,  they  were  signally  defeated.  In  both  of  these 
actions  the  cavalry  bore  a  conspicuous  part ;  and  Cornet 
Daniel  Torrey  was  the  first  United  States  cavalry  officer 
who  gave  his  life  for  his  country.  He  was  killed  at  the 
defense  of  Fort  Eecovery.  Captain  Eobert  Mis  Camp 
bell  was  killed  at  Maumee  Eapids,  and  Captain  Solomon 
Yan  Eensselaer  was  severely  wounded  at  the  same  time. 
I  give  the  following  accounts  of  these  battles : 

On  the  29th  of  June,  1794,  Major  McMahon  marched 
with  eighty  riflemen,  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Hartshorn,  and  fifty  dragoons,  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Taylor,  for  Fort  Eecovery,  as  an  escort  to  three 
hundred  pack-horses,  loaded  with  flour  for  the  garrison. 
On  the  morning  following,  after  they  had  deposited  their 
loading,  and  were  preparing  to  set  out  on  their  return, 
they  were  attacked  by  a  force  of  twelve  hundred  Indians. 
Captain  Hartshorn,  who  had  advanced  with  the  riflemen 


16  History  of  the 

about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  into  the  woods,  immediately 
took  post  on  a  very  strong,  commanding  piece  of  ground 
near  the  garrison,  and  with  great  bravery  maintained  the 
unequal  fight  till  Major  McMahon,  who  had  put  himself 
at  the  head  of  the  cavalry,  was  killed,  as  was  Cornet 
Daniel  Torrey  and  Captain  Taylor,  and  many  of  the  men 
wounded.  The  enemy  now  attacked  Captain  Hartshorn, 
and,  at  the  moment  when  they  were  pushing  to  cut  off 
his  communication  with  the  garrison,  Lieutenant  Drake 
and  Ensign  Dodd  sallied  out  at  the  head  of  twenty  sol 
diers,  who  turned  out  voluntarily  on  the  occasion,  and 
joined  him  after  beating  the  enemy  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet.  At  this  instant  Captain  Hartshorn  received  a 
shot  which  broke  his  thigh.  Lieutenant  Craig  was  killed, 
and  Lieutenant  Marks  taken  prisoner.  Lieutenant  Drake 
now  ordered  a  retreat,  and,  on  endeavoring  to  hold  the 
enemy  in  check  so  as  to  give  the  men  time  to  save  Cap 
tain  Hartshorn,  he  received  a  shot  in  the  groin.  The  en 
emy  now  pressed  so  hard  as  to  compel  the  men  to  leave 
their  captain. 

Great  numbers  of  the  Indians  must  have  been  killed, 
as  they  came  forward  in  column  up  to  the  very  muzzles 
of  the  guns.  Lieutenant  Mitchel,  who  was  with  Captain 
Hartshorn,  but  whom  he  had  detached  with  a  few  active 
men  to  the  flank  of  the  enemy,  was  now  missing ;  and 
while  their  companions  in  the  fort  were  deploring  their 
fate,  and  had  given  them  up  as  lost,  they  saw  him  and 
Lieutenant  Marks  rushing  through  the  thickest  of  the 
enemy  at  opposite  directions,  and  although  numbers  of 
guns  were  fired  at  them  they  got  in  safely.  Lieutenant 
Mitchel  lost  every  man  of  his  party  except  three,  and 


United  States  Cavalry.  17 

Lieutenant  Marks  got  off  by  knocking  down  the  Indian 
who  took  him. 

The  Indians  were  observed  to  carry  off  numbers  of 
killed  and  wounded  on  pack-horses.  The  loss  of  the 
Americans  was  twenty -three  killed  and  about  forty 
wounded.  The  party  commanded  by  Captain  Hartshorn 
brought  in  ten  scalps  of  the  enemy. 

I  copy  the  following  extract  from  General  "Wayne's 
official  report  of  the  battle  of  Maumee  Eapids  to  the  Sec 
retary  of  War,  as  I  can  show  the  doings  of  the  cavalry 
in  this  way  better  than  by  attempting  to  write  an  account 
of  the  fight  myself. 

"  It  is  with  infinite  pleasure  that  I  announce  to  you  the 
brilliant  success  of  the  Federal  army  under  my  command 
in  a  general  action  with  the  combined  force  of  the  hos 
tile  Indians  and  a  considerable  number  of  the  volunteers 
and  militia  of  Detroit,  on  the  20th  of  August,  1794,  on 
the  banks  of  the  Miamis,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  British 
post  and  garrison  at  the  foot  of  the  Kapids. 

"  The  army  advanced  to  Eoche  de  Bout  on  the  loth, 
and  on  the  19th  we  were  employed  in  making  a  tempo 
rary  post  for  the  reception  of  our  stores  and 'baggage, 
and  in  reconnoitring  the  position  of  the  enemy,  who 
were  encamped  behind  a  thick,  bushy  wood  and  the  Brit 
ish  fort. 

"At  eight  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  20th  the 
army  again  advanced  in  columns,  agreeably  to  the  stand 
ing  order  of  the  march ;  the  legion  on  the  right,  its  right 
flank  covered  by  the  Miamis ;  one  brigade  of  mounted 
volunteers  on  the  left,  under  Brigadier  General  Todd; 
and  the  other  in  the  rear,  under  Brigadier  General  Bar- 


18  History  of  the 

bee.  A  select  battalion  of  mounted  volunteers  moved  in 
front  of  the  legion,  commanded  by  Major  Price,  who  was 
directed  to  keep  sufficiently  advanced,  and  to  give  timely 
notice  for  the  troops  to  form  in  case  of  action,  it  being 
yet  undetermined  whether  the  Indians  would  decide  for 
peace  or  war. 

"  After  advancing  about  five  miles.  Major  Price's  corps 
received  so  severe  a  fire  from  the  enemy,  who  were  se 
creted  in  the  woods  and  high  grass,  as  to  compel  them  to 
retreat. 

"The  legion  was  immediately  formed  in  two  lines, 
principally  in  a  close,  thick  wood,  which  extended  for 
miles  on  our  left,  and  for  a  very  considerable  distance  in 
front,  the  ground  being  covered  with  old  fallen  timber, 
probably  occasioned  by  a  tornado,  which  rendered  it  im 
practicable  for  the  cavalry  to  act  with  effect,  and  afforded 
the  enemy  the  most  favorable  covert  for  their  mode  of 
warfare.  The  savages  were  formed  in  three  lines,  within 
supporting  distance  of  each  other,  and  extending  for  near 
two  miles  at  right  angles  with  the  river.  I  soon  discov 
ered,  from  the  weight  of  the  fire  and  extent  of  their  lines, 
that  the  ^nemy  were  in  full  force  in  front,  in  possession 
of  their  favorite  ground,  and  endeavoring  to  turn  our  left 
flank.  I  therefore  gave  orders  for  the  second  line  to  ad 
vance  to  support  the  first,  and  directed  Major  General 
Scott  to  gain  and  turn  the  right  flank  of  the  savages,  with 
the  whole  of  the  mounted  volunteers,  by  a  circuitous 
route.  At  the  same  time,  I  ordered  the  front  line  to  ad 
vance  and  charge  with  trailed  arms,  and  rouse  the  In 
dians  from  their  covert  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  and 
when  up  to  deliver  a  close  and  well-directed  fire  on  their 


United  States  Cavalry.  19 

backs,  followed  by  a  brisk  charge,  so  as  not  to  give  them 
time  to  load  again  or  to  form  their  lines.  I  also  ordered 
Captain  E.  M.  Campbell,  who  commanded  the  legionary 
cavalry,  to  turn  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy  next  the 
river,  which  afforded  a  favorable  field  for  that  corps  to 
act  in. 

"All  these  orders  were  obeyed  with  spirit  and  prompt 
itude  ;  but  such  was  the  impetuosity  of  the  charge  by  the 
first  line  of  infantry,  that  the  Indians  and  Canadian  mili 
tia  and  volunteers  were  driven  from  all  their  coverts  in 
so  short  a  time  that,  although  ever}7-  possible  exertion  was 
used  by  the  officers  of  the  second  line  of  the  legion,  and 
by  Generals  Scott,  Wood,  and  Barbee,  of  the  mounted 
volunteers,  to  gain  their  proper  positions,  but  part  of  each 
could  get  up  in  season  to  participate  in  the  action,  the 
enemy  being  driven  in  the  course  of  one  hour  more  than 
two  miles  through  the  thick  woods  already  mentioned  by 
less  than  one  half  their  number. 

"  From  every  account,  the  enemy  amounted  to  two 
thousand  combatants.  The  troops  actually  engaged 
against  them  were  short  of  nine  hundred.  This  horde 
of  savages,  with  their  allies,  abandoned  themselves  to 
flight,  and  dispersed  with  terror  and  dismay,  leaving  our 
victorious  army  in  full  and  quiet  possession  of  the  field 
of  battle,  which  terminated  under  the  influence  of  the 
guns  of  the  British  garrison. 

"  The  bravery  and  conduct  of  every  officer  belonging 
to  the  army,  from  the  generals  down  to  the  ensigns,  merit 
my  approbation. 

"Lieutenant  Covington,  upon  whom  the  command  of 
the  cavalry  devolved  (Captain  Campbell  being  killed). 


20  History  of  the 

cut  down  two  savages  with  his  own  hand,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Webb  one  in  turning  the  enemy's  left  flank. 

"The  wounds  received  by  Captains  Slough,  Prior,  Van 
Kensselaer,  and  Eawlins,  and  Lieutenants  McKenny  and 
Smith,  bear  honorable  testimony  of  their  bravery  and 
conduct.  In  fact,  every  officer  and  soldier  who  had  an 
opportunity  to  come  into  action  displayed  that  true 
bravery  which  always  insures  success.  And  here  permit 
me  to  declare  that  I  never  discovered  more  true  spirit 
and  anxiety  for  action  than  appeared  to  pervade  the 
whole  of  the  mounted  volunteers ;  and  I  am  well  per 
suaded  that,  had  the  enemy  maintained  their  favorite 
ground  for  one  half  hour  longer,  they  would  have  felt 
most  severely  the  prowess  of  that  corps. 

"But,  while  I  pay  this  just  tribute  to  the  living, I  must 
not  neglect  the  gallant  dead,  among  whom  we  have  to 
lament  the  early  death  of  those  worthy  and  brave  officers, 
Captain  Campbell  and  Lieutenant  Towles,  who  fell  in  the 
first  charge." 

Wayne's  victory  settled  the  Indians  of  the  Northwest 
for  a  number  of  years ;  and  the  soldiers  who  had  borne 
so  honorable  a  share  in  the  campaign  were  sent  eastward, 
where  the  volunteers  disbanded. 

The  term  of  service  of  the  cavalry  (three  years)  expired 
in  1795  and  1796,  and  on  the  31st  of  October  of  the  lat 
ter  year,  all  of  the  regular  light  dragoons,  with  the  ex 
ception  of  two  small  companies,  were  also  disbanded. 

On  the  16th  of  July,  1798,  the  mounted  force  of  the 
Federal  army  was  augmented  by  the  addition  of  six 
troops  of  light  dragoons,  which,  together  with  the  two 
then  in  service,  formed  a  regiment,  which  was  placed  un- 


United  States  Cavalry.  21 

der  command  of  "Lieutenant  Colonel  Commandant"  John 
Watts,  of  Virginia,  who  received  his  appointment  on  the 
8th  of  January,  1799.  The  men  of  this  regiment  were 
"to  be  enlisted  for  and  during  the  continuance  of  the 
existing  differences  between  the  United  States  and  the 
French  Eepublic,  unless  sooner  discharged." 

By  an  Act  of  Congress  of  March  2d,  179'9,  three  regi 
ments  of  cavalry  were  authorized  to  be  raised  for  the 
United  States  army.  Each  regiment  was  to  have  con 
sisted  of  five  squadrons  of  two  companies  each,  but  they 
were  never  filled  up.  On  the  14th  of  May,  1800,  Con 
gress  ordered  the  officers  and  men  heretofore  raised  to  be 
discharged,  with  the  exception  of  the  officers  and  men  of 
two  troops  of  dragoons ;  and  on  the  16th  of  March,  1802, 
under  President  Jefferson,  these  two  companies  were  leg 
islated  out  of  service,  and  our  army  was  left  without  any 
mounted  men. 

In  the  cavalry  force  organized  in  1799  appear  the 
names  of  several  officers  who  subsequently  gained  dis 
tinction.  Prominent  among  them  is  the  name  of  Alex 
ander  Macomb,  junior,  who  was  born  in  Detroit  on  the 
3d  of  April,  1782.  He  entered  the  service  as  cornet  of 
cavalry,  January  10th,  1799,  and  became  a  second  lieu 
tenant  in  1801.  He  was  retained  in  service  when  the 
cavalry  was  disbanded,  and,  after  a  most  honorable  life, 
died  while  major  general  and  general -in -chief  of  the 
army,  at  Washington,  June  25th,  1841.  John  De  Earth 
Walbach,  born  in  Germany,  and  who  had  seen  service  as 
an  officer  in  the  Eoyal  Alsace  Kegiment  of  France,  and 
in  the  Eohan  Hussars  of  Germany,  left  Europe  during 
the  French  Eevolution,  and  entered  our  service  as  first 


22  History  of  the 

lieutenant  and  adjutant  of  cavalry,  January  8th,  1799. 
He  continued  in  it  until  the  time  of  his  death,  in  June, 
1857,  at  which  time  he  was  a  brevet  brigadier  general. 
George  W.  P.  Custis,  the  protege  of  Washington,  also  en 
tered  the  service  as  cornet  of  cavalry  in  1799,  though  he 
remained  in  it  but  a  short  time. 

On  the  12th  of  April,  1808,  Congress  ordered  a  regi 
ment  of  light  dragoons,  of  eight  troops,  to  be  raised,  to 
serve  as  light  infantry  until  mounted. 

Wade  Hampton,  of  South  Carolina,  was  appointed  col 
onel;  Leonard  Covington,  of  Maryland,  was  appointed 
lieutenant  colonel ;  and  Electus  Backus,  of  New  York, 
was  appointed  major.  The  young  Cornet  Haxtun,  of  this 
regiment,  was  killed  in  a  duel  at  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania, 
December  29th,  1809. 

This  was  the  mounted  force  of  the  republic  at  the  time 
of  the  commencement  of  the  War  of  1812.  Hampton 
was  promoted  brigadier  general  February  loth,  1809, 
when  Covington  became  colonel ;  Backus,  lieutenant  col 
onel  ;  and  Jacint  Laval,  of  South  Carolina,  mnjor.  After 
the  death  of  Backus  and  the  promotion  of  Covington  to 
the  grade  of  brigadier  general,  Laval  became  colonel; 
Major  Nelson  Luckett,  of  Virginia,  lieutenant  colonel ; 
and  Captain  Arthur  P.  Hayne,  of  South  Carolina,  major. 

In  Harrison's  campaign  against  the  Indians  in  1811, 
a  volunteer  cavalry  battalion  was  in  service,  and  acquit 
ted  itself  most  admirably.  This  was  Major  Jo  Daviess's 
battalion  of  Kentucky  and  Indiana  cavalry.  At  the  bat 
tle  of  Tippecanoe  it  rendered  very  important  service ; 
and  Major  Daviess  was  mortally  wounded  while  leading 
it  against  the  Indians,  under  Tecumseh,  on  the  7th  of  No- 


United  States  Cavalry.  23 

vernber,  1811.  Jo  Daviess,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was 
one  of  the  most  eminent  men  in  the  Western  States,  and 
his  untimely  fall  cut  short  a  career  which  would,  no 
doubt,  have  been  of  the  greatest  benefit  to  his  country. 
His  bearing  during  the  battle  was  gallant  in  the  extreme, 
and  he  was  ably  seconded  by  the  brave  men  of  Kentucky 
and  Indiana,  who  on  that  day  won  a  renown  which  has 
since  been  cherished  as  one  of  the  brightest  pages  of 
American  history. 

On  the  llth  of  January,  1812,  Congress  ordered  an 
other  regiment  of  twelve  companies  of  light  dragoons  to 
be  added  to  the  army.  James  Burn,  of  South  Carolina, 
was  appointed  colonel,  and  James  Y.  Ball,  of  Virginia, 
major.  On  the  17th  and  18th  of  December,  1812,  Major 
Ball  greatly  distinguished  himself,  and  was  breveted  lieu 
tenant  colonel.  This  was  at  what  is  known  as  the  ac 
tions  on  the  Mississinewa,  near  the  head  of  the  "Wabash 
River,  in  Indiana,  fought  by  the  United  States  dragoons 
and  a  body  of  volunteer  troops  under  Lieutenant  Colonel 
John  B.  Campbell  against  the  Delaware  and  Miami  In 
dians.  First  Lieutenant  James  Hedges,  of  the  2d  Dra 
goons,  was  wounded  at  this  battle.  On  account  of  the 
lateness  of  the  season,  many  of  the  men  in  this  campaign 
were  badly  frostbitten,  and  the  horses  of  the  dragoons 
were  completely  broken  down. 

On  the  12th  of  June,  1812,  war  was  declared  against 
Great  Britain,  and  on  the  29th  of  May,  1813,  Sackett's 
Harbor  was  attacked  by  a  British  force  under  the  per 
sonal  command  of  Sir  George  Provost,  governor  of  Can 
ada.  The  garrison  at  that  place  consisted  of  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dismounted  dragoons  of  the  1st  regi- 


24  History  of  the 

ment,  sixty  artillery  men,  and  about  eighty  recruits,  the 
whole  being  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Elec- 
tus  Backus,  of  the  1st  Dragoons.  As  soon  as  Backus 
learned  of  the  approach  of  the  British,  who  were  coming 
up  on  the  water,  he  sent  word  to  General  Brown,  who 
was  some  twelve  miles  distant,  to  come  to  his  assistance 
at  once.  Brown  immediately  called  together  all  of  the 
available  militia  force,  and  upon  reaching  the  town  the 
fight  commenced.  The  militia  soon  gave  way,  and  Back 
us  was  left  to  do  the  best  he  could.  The  fight  was  ob 
stinate,  and  he  soon  fell  mortally  wounded.  In  the  mean 
time  General  Brown  had  used  all  his  efforts,  eventually 
with  success,  to  reform  a  portion  of  the  militia,  and  force 
the  British  back  to  their  boats.  They  retreated,  but  had 
done  considerable  damage  to  our  people,  as  during  the 
fight  the  ship -yard  had  been  set  on  fire,  and  property 
worth  more  than  half  a  million  of  dollars  had  been  de 
stroyed. 

Backus's  death  was  a  severe  blow,  and  our  loss,  con 
sidering  the  forces  engaged,  considerable. 

The  battle  of  Stony  Creek,  Upper  Canada,  was  fought 
on  the  6th  of  June  following.  This  was  a  most  singular 
affair,  and  reflected  no  great  credit  either  upon  our  troops 
or  the  enemy.  It  appears  that  Generals  Chandler  and 
Winder,  of  the  United  States  Army,  with  about  1300 
men,  were  detached  for  the  purpose  of  making  an  attack 
upon  a  British  force  under  General  Vincent.  The  latter, 
upon  learning  what  was  going  forward,  himself  became 
the  attacking  party,  and,  with  about  800  men,  in  the 
night  made  his  way  into  Chandler's  camp,  capturing  both 
Generals  Chandler  and  Winder,  five  officers,  and  ninety- 


United  States  Cavalry.  25 

three  men,  besides  four  pieces  of  artillery.  In  addition 
to  this,  we  had  seventeen  killed  and  thirty-eight  wound 
ed.  But  our  people,  getting  some  insight  into  the  state 
of  affairs,  drove  the  British  off,  they  losing  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty,  of  which  number  one  hundred  were 
taken  prisoners.  Colonel  Burn,  with  the  whole  of  the 
2d  regiment  of  Dragoons,  was  near  by,  but  took  no  part 
in  the  action,  though  the  command  devolved  upon  him 
after  the  capture  of  the  generals.  He  gave  as  his  excuse 
for  not  pursuing  the  enemy  his  ignorance  of  knowledge 
of  infantry  tactics.  On  this  account  the  British  got  off, 
though  it  is  not  at  all  certain  what  would  have  been  the 
result  had  he  followed  even  with  a  superior  force.  His 
excuse  would  not  at  this  day  be  considered  as  exactly 
valid. 

In  the  "West  the  volunteer  cavalry  did  well,  particular 
ly  at  the  battle  of  the  Thames. 

General  Harrison  had  prepared  himself  for  battle  dur 
ing  the  night,  and  early  on  the  morning  of  October  5th, 
1813,  seeing  the  British  infantry  in  front  and  on  the  right 
in  open  order,  he  gave  the  order  to  Colonel  Eichard  M. 
Johnson  to  charge  with  his  regiment  of  Kentucky  cav 
alry.  This  was  promptly  executed ;  and  the  only  move 
ment  worthy  the  name  of  a  cavalry  charge  which  occur 
red  during  the  second  war  with  Great  Britain  was  gal 
lantly  carried  out.  By  it,  in  fact,  Proctor's  infantry  force 
was  entirely  broken  up  and  captured.  Johnson  then 
turned  to  the  left,  and  attempted  to  charge  a  large  Indian 
force  which  was  stationed  in  the  edge  of  a  growth  of  tim 
ber,  but  he  found  the  ground  was  swampy,  and  his  horses 
commenced  sinking.  Seeing  this,  he  ordered  his  men  to 

B 


26  History  of  the 

dismount,  and  made  the  attack  on  foot.  Tecumseh,  with 
his  braves,  was  ready  to  meet  him,  and,  uttering  his  Shaw- 
nee  war-cry  and  discharging  his  rifle,  the  Indians  and 
Kentuckians  were  soon  mingled  in  mortal  combat.  Te 
cumseh  was  killed,  and  Colonel  Johnson  was  dangerously 
wounded.  The  fight  in  the  timber  was  picturesque  as 
well  as  deadly,  the  Indians  being  dressed  in  their  plumes 
and  war-paint,  and  the  Kentuckians  dressed  in  hunting- 
shirts  of  jeans  fringed  with  red,  wearing  round  hats  with 
long  plumes  of  white  tipped  with  red.  Our  victory  was 
complete,  and  the  volunteers  soon  afterward  returned  to 
Kentucky,  where  they  were  discharged. 

Brigadier  General  Covington,  who  had  been  colonel  of 
the  1st  regiment  of  Dragoons,  was  mortally  wounded  at 
the  battle  of  Chrystler's  Field,  on  the  llth  of  November, 
1813.  At  this  battle  a  squadron  of  the  2d  Dragoons  be 
haved  with  great  gallantry,  and  rescued  several  pieces  of 
cannon  of  ours  which  had  been  taken  by  the  British,  but 
they  were  unable  to  hold  them,  being  too  weak  in  num 
bers.  After  a  severe  struggle,  however,  they  brought 
off  all  except  one  piece,  which  was  kept  by  the  enemy. 

THE   CREEK  WAR. 

In  General  Jackson's  campaigns  against  the  Creek  In 
dians,  the  mounted  volunteers  from  Tennessee  behaved 
very  well,  particularly  at  Tallushatchee.  The  Creek  "War 
had  its  origin  in  the  massacre  of  the  whites  at  Fort  Mims 
by  the  Indians,  and  Jackson  was  sent  out  to  chastise 
them.  The  battle  of  Tallushatchee,  Alabama,  took  place 
on  the  3d  of  November,  18>3.  Here  the  mounted  men 
of  Jackson's  armv,  under  command  of  Brigadier  General 


United  States  Cavalry.  27 

John  Coffee,  behaved  most  admirably.  In  addition  to  his 
own  men,  Coffee  had  a  band  of  friendly  Creek  Indians 
with  him,  wearing  white  feathers  and  white  deers'  tails, 
to  distinguish  them  from  their  hostile  brethren.  In  Cof 
fee's  official  report  to  Jackson,  he  says :  "I  arrived  within 
one  mile  and  a  half  of  the  Indian  town  on  the  morning 
of  the  3d,  at  which  place  I  divided  my  detachment  into 
two  columns,  the  right  composed  of  the  cavalry,  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Allcorn,  to  cross  over  a  large  creek 
that  lay  between  us  and  the  towns ;  the  left  column  was 
of  the  mounted  riflemen,  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Cannon,  with  whom  I  marched  myself.  Colonel  Allcorn 
was  ordered  to  march  up  on  the  right  and  encircle  one 
half  of  the  town,  and,  at  the  same  time,  the  left  would 
form  a  half  circle  on  the  left,  and  unite  the  head  of  the 
columns  in  front  of  the  town,  all  of  which  was  performed 
as  I  could  wish.  When  I  arrived  within  half  a  mile  of 
the  town,  the  drums  of  the  enemy  began  to  beat,  mingled 
with  their  savage  yells,  preparing  for  action.  It  was  aft 
er  sunrise  an  hour  when  the  action  was  brought  on  by 
Captain  Hammond  and  Lieutenant  Patterson's  companies, 
who  had  gone  on  within  the  circle  of  the  alignment  for 
the  purpose  of  drawing  out  the  enemy  from  their  build 
ings,  which  had  the  most  happy  effect.  As  soon  as  Cap 
tain  Hammond  exhibited  his  front  in  view  of  the  town 
(which  stood  in  an  open  woodland),  and  gave  a  few  scat 
tering  shot,  the  enemy  formed  and  made  a  violent  charge 
on  him.  He  gave  way  as  they  advanced  until  they  met 
our  right  column,  which  gave  them  a  general  fire  and 
then  charged.  This  changed  the  direction  of  charge 
completely.  The  enemy  retreated  firing  until  they  got 


28  History  of  the 

around  and  in  their  buildings,  where  they  made  all  the 
resistance  that  an  overpowered  soldier  could  do.  They 
fought  as  long  as  one  existed ;  but  their  destruction  was 
very  soon  completed.  Our  men  rushed  up  to  the  doors 
of  the  houses,  and  in  a  few  minutes  killed  the  last  war 
rior  of  them.  The  enemy  fought  with  savage  fury,  and 
met  death,  with  all  its  horrors,  without  shrinking  or  com 
plaining  ;  not  one  asked  to  be  spared,  but  fought  as  long 
as  they  could  sit  or  stand.  In  consequence  of  their  fly 
ing  to  their  houses  and  mixing  with  the  families,  our 
men,  in  killing  the  males,  without  intention  killed  and 
wounded  a  few  of  the  squaws  and  children,  which  was 
regretted  by  every  officer  and  soldier  of  the  detachment, 
but  which  could  not  be  avoided. 

"  The  number  of  the  enemy  killed  was  one  hundred 
and  eighty-six  that  were  counted,  and  a  number  of  others 
that  were  killed  in  the  weeds,  not  found.  I  think  the 
calculation  a  reasonable  one  to  say  two  hundred  of  them 
were  killed,  and  eighty-four  prisoners  of  women  and  chil 
dren  were  taken.  Not  one  of  the  warriors  escaped  to 
carry  the  news  —  a  circumstance  unknown  heretofore. 
We  lost  five  killed  and  forty-one  wounded,  none  mor 
tally,  the  greater  part  slightly — a  number  with  arrows. 
This  appears  to  form  a  very  principal  part  of  the  enemy's 
arms  for  warfare,  every  man  having  a  bow  with  a  bun 
dle  of  arrows,  which  is  used  after  the  first  fire  with  the 
gun,  until  a  leisure  time  for  loading  occurs." 

After  the  battle  Coffee  returned  to  General  Jackson, 
thirteen  miles  distant. 

While  this  affair  was  going  on,  a  thousand  hostile 
Creeks  had  got  a  body  of  friendly  Indians  penned  up  in 


United  States  Cavalry.  29 

a  fort  at  Talladega,  Alabama,  situated  on  a  branch  of  the 
Coosa  Eiver,  in  the  midst  of  beautiful  mountain  scenery. 
Jackson  heard  of  it,  and  also  heard  that  the  friendly  In 
dians  were  suffering  intolerably  for  want  of  water,  which 
the  hostiles  had  completely  cut  off.  After  a  long  and 
weary  march,  General  Jackson,  with  eight  hundred  mount 
ed  men  and  twelve  hundred  infantry,  arrived  within  six 
miles  of  the  fort  on  the  evening  of  the  8th  of  November, 
1813.  Before  four  o'clock  on  the  succeeding  morning 
our  army  was  in  full  march  toward  the  enemy.  A  sud 
den  and  vigorous  attack  soon  put  the  hostile  Creeks  to 
flight,  and  liberated  the  friendly  Indians,  who  were  over 
joyed  at  regaining  their  liberty,  and  profuse  in  their  dem 
onstrations  of  gratitude.  Fifteen  minutes  after  the  ac 
tion  became  general  the  savages  were  flying  in  all  direc 
tions,  and  falling  beneath  the  sabre-strokes  of  our  cavalry 
men,  who  followed  them  a  long  distance.  The  loss  to 
the  Indians  was  very  severe,  and  the  Creeks,  seeing  that 
they  were  likely  to  be  overpowered,  sent  in  to  General 
Jackson,  who  had  returned  to  Fort  Strother,  proposing  to 
make  peace. 

General  Jackson  agreed  to  the  terms,  and  sent  back 
the  messenger,  assuring  the  Indians  that  the  Creek  War 
should  cease ;  but,  unfortunately,  while  he  was  making 
this  treaty,  General  White,  with  a  body  of  East  Tennes- 
seeans,  without  knowing  what  Jackson  had  done,  fell 
upon  the  Creeks  at  the  Hillabee  and  Autosse  towns,  and 
massacred  many  of  them.  The  Indians,  not  being  able 
to  understand  the  difference  between  Jackson's  troops 
and  those  commanded  by  General  White,  supposed  that 
General  Jackson  had  deceived  them,  and,  as  a  matter  of 


30  History  of  the 

course,  their  hatred  toward  the  whites  became  more  dead 
ly  and  intense  than  ever. 

All  hopes  of  making  a  peace  being  now  at  an  end, 
Jackson  prepared  to  follow  the  Indians  again.  He  had 
had  considerable  difficulty  with  his  own  soldiers,  whose 
term  of  service  had  expired,  and  many  of  them  had  gone 
home,  in  spite  of  all  the  general's  efforts  to  retain  them. 

In  January,  1814,  Jackson,  with  his  army,  started  to 
invade  the  Indian  country  in  Alabama,  and,  after  march 
ing  several  days,  encamped  near  the  Indian  town  of 
Emucfau,  near  the  bend  of  the  Tallapoosa  Kiver.  Here, 
during  the  night  of  tho  21st  of  January,  he  was  suddenly 
attacked  by  a  large  body  of  Indians,  whom  he  succeeded 
in  beating  off,  but  was  so  severely  handled  that  he  started 
on  his  return  to  Fort  Strother.  While  on  the  march,  and 
near  the  ford  of  the  Enotachopco,  on  the  23d,  the  Indians 
again  fell  upon  him  and  his  army  with  such  terrible 
effect  as  to  break  his  lines,  put  a  portion  of  his  troops  to 
rout,  and,  had  it  not  been  for  the  steadiness  of  Jackson, 
Coffee,  and  a  few  daring  spirits,  no  doubt  the  greater  por 
tion  of  them  would  have  been  massacred.  It  is  impossi 
ble  to  state  what  .{he  losses  were  on  each  side,  but  I  am 
inclined  to  believe  they  were  about  equal,  amounting  to 
not  more  than  a  hundred  killed  and  wounded  on  either 
side.  The  Creeks  fought  with  great  bravery,  and  the 
Tennesseeans  were  only  too  glad  to  make  their  escape  to 
Fort  Strother.  In  these  engagements,  General  Coffee,  the 
cavalry  leader,  though  wounded,  behaved  most  gallantly, 
and  left  his  litter  to  lead  his  men  on  horseback. 

After  his  return  to  Fort  Strother,  General  Jackson 
commenced  making  preparations  for  another  and  final 


United  States  Cavalry.  31 

campaign  against  the  Creeks,  who  had  assembled  together 
under  Weatherford,  at  Tahopeka,  or  the  HORSE-SHOE 
BEND  of  the  Tallapoosa.  Soon  he  was  joined  by  a  body 
of  volunteers  from  East  Tennessee,  one  from  West  Ten 
nessee,  the  39th  regiment  of  United  States  regular  in 
fantry,  a  part  of  Coffee's  brigade  of  mounted  volunteers, 
and  a  troop  of  dragoons  from  East  Tennessee.  After  a 
weary  march,  he  reached  Tahopeka  on  the  27th  of  March, 
1814,  and  commenced  the  attack  upon  the  savages,  who 
had  fortified  their  position  in  expectation  of  such  an 
event.  Coffee,  with  his  mounted  men,  was  sent  across  the 
river  to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  Indians,  and  well  did  he 
do  his  work.  In  this  battle  there  was  a  complete  slaugh 
ter  of  the  Indians,  which  is  sickening  in  its  details,  as  the 
savages  would  not  surrender  nor  be  taken  alive.  It  is 
said  that  five  hundred  and  fifty-seven  were  found  dead 
on  the  peninsula.  It  was  supposed  that  two  hundred 
more  had  found  a  resting-place  at  the  bottom  of  the  river, 
and  many  more  died  while  attempting  to  escape.  Gen 
eral  Jackson's  loss  was  fifty-five  killed,  and  one  hundred 
and  forty-six  wounded.  General  Jackson  shortly  after 
ward  marched  to  Eccanachaco,  or  the  Holy  Ground,  and 
the  Creek  "War  was  ended.  The  chief,  Weatherford,  sur 
rendered  himself  a  prisoner ;  others  gave  themselves  up, 
while  others  made  their  way  to  Florida,  where  they 
subsequently  took  part  in  the  war  against  the  whites. 
Weatherford,  the  chief,  surrendered  himself  to  Jackson 
only  after  he  had  seen  nearly  all  his  warriors  sleeping 
beneath  the  ground  which  had  belonged  to  the  Creek 
nation  for  hundreds  of  years.  No  braver  people  ever 
lived. 


32  History  of  the 

The  dragoon  regiments  having  been  very  much  re 
duced  daring  the  war,  on  the  30th  of  March,  1814,  Con 
gress  enacted  that  they  should  be  consolidated  into  one 
regiment  This  regiment  was  composed  of  eight  troops, 
each  one  of  which  was  to  consist  of  a  captain,  one  first 
lieutenant,  one  second  lieutenant,  one  third  lieutenant, 
one  cornet,  five  sergeants,  eight  corporals,  one  riding-mas 
ter,  one  master  of  the  sword,  two  trumpeters,  one  farrier, 
one  blacksmith,  one  saddler,  and  ninety-six  privates,  or  a 
total  of  five  officers  and  one  hundred  and  sixteen  enlist 
ed  men. 

Colonel  James  Burn,  of  the  2d  regiment,  was  retained 
as  colonel,  and  Colonel  Jacint  Laval,  of  the  1st,  was  re 
tained  as  lieutenant  colonel.  A  squadron  of  this  regi 
ment,  under  command  of  Captain  Samuel  D.  Harris,  served 
under  Major  General  Brown  at  the  battles  of  Chippewa 
and  Niagara  in  July,  1814,  where  the  dragoons  did  good 
service ;  and  for  his  gallantry  and  bravery  in  these  con 
flicts,  Harris  was  made  a  brevet  major  for  Chippewa,  and 
a  brevet  lieutenant  colonel  for  Niagara,  or  Lundy's  Lane. 

At  the  grand  closing  scene  of  the  War  of  1812,  the 
battle  of  New  Orleans,  none  of  our  cavalry  was  present 
except  Major  Hinds's  battalion  of  Mississippi  mounted 
men,  who  had  been  drilled  and  disciplined  but  little, 
though  they  rendered  such  services  as  they  were  called 
upon  to  perform,  and  were  of  much  benefit  to  Jackson 
in  watching  the  movements  of  the  enemy. 

The  truth  is,  that,  in  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain, 
our  dragoons  were  of  no  great  use,  and,  having  no  friend 
ly  hand  to  help  them,  they  fell  into  neglect,  and  the  serv 
ice  became  unpopular.  There  seems  to  have  been  no 


United  States  Cavalry.  33 

system  about  their  organization  and  ways  of  doing,  and 
"  light  horsemen,"  so  called  by  the  people,  were  looked 
upon  with  fear,  but  with  no  great  favor.  The  general 
officers  knew  little,  and  cared  less  about  cavalry ;  and  not 
many  years  have  passed  by  since  the  then  head  of  our 
army  could  not  understand  the  use  of  it.  But,  thank 
Fortune,  the  cavalry  have  vindicated  their  own  claim  to 
being  known,  and  now  no  branch  of  the  service  stands 
forth  more  proudly  than  this. 

No  cavalry  was  ever  better  than  that  which  belonged 
to  Wayne's  army  in  1794,  and,  I  fear,  no  cavalry  was 
ever  much  poorer  than  that  which  belonged  to  us  in  1813 
and  1814. 

On  the  15th  of  June,  1815,  the  dragoon  regiment  was 
disbanded  by  Congress,  and  our  army  was  again  left  with 
out  mounted  soldiers.  The  war  with  Great  Britain  had 
closed,  and  our  government  felt  too  poor  to  keep  any 
more  soldiers  than  could  be  got  along  with  by  the  most 
rigid  economy. 

In  the  regiment  of  cavalry  commanded  by  Lieutenant 
Colonel  John  Watts,  mentioned  on  the  21st  page,  Solo 
mon  Yan  Eensselaer  served  as  major.  Watts  had  been 
a  cavalry  officer  in  the  Eevolutionary  War,  in  which  he 
was  wounded  three  times. 

The  majors  who  were  retained  in  the  Light  Dragoon 
regiment  until  the  close  of  the  war  were  Major  and  Brevet 
Lieutenant  Col.  James  V.  Ball  and  Major  Thos.  A.  Helms. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Jacint  Laval  had  been  an  officer  in 
the  French  army,  and  came  to  America  in  the  legion  of  the 
Duke  of  Lauzun  during  the  Eevolution.  He  command 
ed  a  squadron  of  dragoons  at  the  battle  of  Bladensburg. 

B2 


34  History  of  the 


CHAPTER  II. 

Battalion  of  Mounted  Rangers  raised  in  1832,— The  Black  Hawk  War.— 
First  Regiment  of  Dragoons  formed  in  1833. — Officers  and  Organiza 
tion. — Campaign  west  of  the  Mississippi. — Death  of  Lieutenant  Izard. 
— Second  Dragoons  formed  in  1836. — The  Florida  War. — Harney's 
Fight  on  the  Carloosahatchee ;  Sampson's  Account  of  it.  —  Soldier's 
Life. — "The  Dragoon  bold." — Second  Dragoons  dismounted  and  re 
mounted. — Tactics. — Services  of  the  Dragoons. — Close  of  the  Florida 
War.— Wild  Cat's  Story.— Dragoon  Uniform. 

UNDER  President  Jackson  and  on  the  15th  day  of  June, 
1832,  Congress  ordered  a  battalion  of  mountain  rangers 
to  be  raised  for  the  protection  of  the  Western  frontier. 
"  The  Black  Hawk  War,"  so  called,  was  then  in  prog 
ress,  and  it  was  supposed  that  a  force  of  this  kind,  made 
up  of  officers  and  soldiers  who  had  seen  service  on  the 
frontier,  would  do  much  in  bringing  the  Sauk  and  Fox 
Indians  to  peaceful  terms.  The  battalion  was  composed 
of  six  companies,  and  Henry  Dodge,  of  Wisconsin,  was 
appointed  major  commandant. 

Dodge  had  commanded  a  company  of  mounted  volun 
teers  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  had  subsequently  been  a 
field  officer  in  some  militia  organization.  Upon  the  break 
ing,  out  of  the  troubles  with  Black  Hawk  he  had  formed 
a  company  of  volunteers,  and  had  skirmished  with  the 
Indians  successfully  at  Pickatolika,  and  at  the  Blue 
Mounds,  in  Illinois.  On  this  account  he  was  deemed  by 
Jackson  to  be  the  most  suitable  person  to  command  the 


United  States  Cavalry.  35 

rangers.  As  a  partisan  commander  lie  was,  no  doubt,  a 
good  one,  but  as  a  colonel  of  a  regular  regiment,  which 
he  soon  afterward  became,  there  is  no  doubt  that  he  was 
found  wanting.  This  battalion  appears  to  have  done 
some  service ;  but  the  good  sense  of  those  in  power  pre 
vailing,  the  battalion  was  merged  into  the  1st  regiment 
of  Dragoons  by  an  Act  of  Congress  of  March  2d,  1833. 

From  that  hour  the  United  States  cavalry  service  has 
been  most  honorable,  and  from  it  must  date  the  present 
organization,  and  the  school  in  which  some  as  good  offi 
cers  as  the  world  has  ever  seen  have  been  trained. 

As  before  remarked,  Major  Henry  Dodge  became  col 
onel  of  this  regiment.  Major  Stephen  Watts  Kearney, 
of  the  3d  Infantry,  was  selected  as  lieutenant  colonel.  It 
proved  a  most  admirable  selection,  and  the  high  charac 
ter  which  the  regiment  subsequently  attained  was  mainly 
due  to  him.  Kearney  was  born  in  Newark,  New  Jersey, 
August  30th,  1794,  and  entered  the  army  from  New  York 
as  first  lieutenant  of  the  13th  Infantry  in  1812.  He  was 
distinguished  in  the  attack  upon  Queenston  Heights,  and 
bore  an  honorable  part  in  the  late  war  with  Great  Britain. 

Captain  Eichard  B.  Mason,  of  the  1st  Infantry,  was  ap 
pointed  major,  March  4th,  1833.  He  was  from  Virginia, 
and  entered  the  army  as  2d  lieutenant  in  the  8th  Infantry 
on  the  2d  of  September,  1817. 

The  regiment  was  composed  of  ten  companies,  which 
appears  to  be  the  favorite  American  organization,  and 
was  to  serve  on  horse  or  foot,  as  might  be  directed.  Most 
of  the  officers  who  had  served  in  the  battalion  of  United 
States  Hangers  were  retained  in  the  regiment.  The  grade 
of  cornet  was  not  revived,  but  in  lieu  of  it  the  junior  com- 


36  History  of  the 

missioned  officers  were  called  second  lieutenants.  Among 
the  captains  were  David  Hunter,  Nathan  Boone,  and  Ed 
win  V.  Sumner. 

The  regiment  rendezvoused  at  Jefferson  Barracks, 
eleven  miles  below  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and 
was  there  organized  during  the  summer  of  1833.  After 
its  organization  it  was  employed  in  the  West,  and  made 
several  marches  toward  the  Kocky  Mountains,  and  south 
as  far  as  Red  River. 

In  the  summer  of  1834  it  made  a  campaign  far  to  the 
Southwest,  the  object  being  to  cultivate  an  acquaintance 
with  the  Pawnees  and  Carnanches,  and  to  demand  the 
surrender  of  an  American  boy,  named  Martin,  whose  fa 
ther,  Judge  Martin,  had  been  cruelly  murdered  by  the 
savages  in  the  summer  of  1833  while  out  buffalo-hunting 
west  of  Fort  Gibson.  Great  sickness  prevailed  among 
both  men  and  horses  at  the  mouth  of  the  False  Washita ; 
and  to  such  an  extent  did  it  weaken  the  regiment  that  it 
was  found  necessary  to  form  a  camp  there  for  the  sick, 
which  was  left  in  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Kear 
ney.  The  regiment,  when  it  left  Fort  Gibson,  was  about 
four  hundred  strong,  and  but  about  two  hundred  and  fifty 
were  able  to  go  on  with  Colonel  Dodge.  Brigadier  Gen 
eral  Atkinson  accompanied  the  expedition,  and  died  at 
the  Cross  Timbers,  beyond  the  False  Washita,  on  the  21st 
of  July,  1834 

The  regiment  marched  due  west  from  camp  until  it 
came  to  the  great  Camanche  village,  which  numbered 
over  six  hundred  lodges.  After  staying  here  for  a  time, 
it  moved  still  farther  west,  until  it  came  to  the  great  Paw 
nee  village  on  the  banks  of  Red  River,  and  ninety  miles 


United  States  Cavalry.  37 

beyond  the  Camanche  village.  Here,  after  a  great  deal 
of  trouble,  the  boy  Martin  was  found  and  taken  in  charge 
by  Colonel  Dodge,  and  was  eventually  restored  to  his 
relatives. 

Catlin,  the  painter,  accompanied  the  regiment  in  this 
campaign,  and  painted  the  portraits  of  many  of  the  In 
dians  of  the  Far  West.  His  collection,  which  is  now  in 
London,  was  made  in  part  while  with  the  regiment.  It 
is  a  lasting  monument  of  the  industry  and  talent  of  one 
of  our  countrymen,  and  a  work  which  all  Americans 
should  feel  proud  of,  and  which  it  is  wrong  for  our  gov 
ernment  to  let  remain  in  a  foreign  land. 

While  at  the  Pawnee  village  the  officers  and  men  were 
visited  by  bands  of  Kiowas  and  Wacos,  and  no  doubt 
their  presence  had  a  salutary  effect  upon  them.  Still,  the 
campaign  was  a  most  disastrous  one,  and,  besides  a  large 
sum  of  money,  cost  the  United  States  the  lives  of  over 
one  hundred  dragoons  and  several  valuable  officers. 

The  regiment  was  afterward  scattered  over  an  immense 
extent  of  country,  though  but  two  companies  of  it  served 
in  Florida,  and  they  but  for  a  short  time.  One  officer  of 
it  was  killed  there  while  serving  on  the  staff  of  Major 
General  Gaines.  This  was  First  Lieutenant  James  Far 
ley  Izard,  who  was  mortally  wounded  in  the  skirmishes 
which  occurred  at  the  ford  of  the  Withlacoochee,  on  the 
28th  of  February,  1836.  He  was  a  fine  young  officer, 
and  was  the  only  member  of  the  1st  Dragoons  killed  dur 
ing  that  war.  He  died  at  Camp  Izard  on  the  5th  of 
March,  1836. 

On  the  23d  of  May,  1836,  Congress  passed  a  law  au 
thorizing  the  raising  of  an  additional  regiment  of  Dra- 


38  History  of  the 

goons,  which  was  organized,  in  all  respects  whatever,  the 
same  as  the  1st  Dragoons. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  David  E.  Twiggs,  of  the  4th  In 
fantry,  was  promoted  colonel  of  this  regiment  on  the  8th 
of  June,  1836.  "VVharton  Hector,  of  Missouri  Territory, 
was  appointed  lieutenant  colonel,  June  18th,  1836,  and 
Thomas  T.  Fauntleroy,  of  Virginia,  was  appointed  major, 
June  8th,  1836.  Kector  declined  the  appointment,  and 
Paymaster  William  S.  Harney  was  promoted  lieutenant 
colonel,  August  15th,  1836.  Major  Kector  was  appoint 
ed  paymaster  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  promotion 
of  Harney. 

Colonel  Twiggs  was  born  in  Augusta,  Georgia,  in  1790, 
and  entered  the  army  as  captain  in  the  8th  Infantry  on 
the  12th  of  March,  1812.  He  participated  in  several  of 
Jackson's  fights  against  the  Creek  Indians,  and  had  the 
reputation  of  being  a  very  shrewd  officer. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Harney  was  born  in  Louisiana  in 
1798,  and  entered  the  army  as  second  lieutenant  of  the 
1st  Infantry  on  the  13th  of  February,  1818.  He  served 
through  the  various  grades  creditably  to  himself,  bore  a 
conspicuous  part  in  the  "Black  Hawk"  War,  and  was 
considered  one  of  the  most  athletic  men  in  the  service. 
He  had  a  splendid  military  figure,  and  was,  all  in  all,  a 
"  model  dragoon." 

The  2d  Dragoons  was  organized  at  Jefferson  Barracks, 
Missouri,  in  the  summer  of  1836,  and  while  it  is  fair  to 
say  that  there  was  more  dash  about  it  than  about  the 
other  regiment,  the  old  1st  Dragoons  had  a  steadiness  of 
purpose  and  a  determination  which  has  made  many  an 
enemy  quail  on  many  a  field. 


United  States  Cavalry.  39 

The  1st  regiment  was  kept  scouting  in  the  Far  West, 
and  the  2d  was  sent  to  Florida,  where,  among  the  swamps, 
live  oak-trees,  and  mangrove  bushes,  it  was  kept  at  work 
for  several  years.  Lieutenant  John  W.  Scott  McNiel,  of 
this  regiment,  was  mortally  wounded,  September  10th, 
1837,  while  serving  under  Brigadier  General  Hernandez, 
by  the  Seminole  Indians,  in  action  near  Mosquito  Inlet, 
and  died  on  the  following  day. 

On  the  19th.  of  July  of  the  same  year  Captain  James 
A.  Ashby,  with  sixty- two  men  of  the  2d  Dragoons,  had 
a  fight  at  Welika  Pond,  where  he  succeeded  in  defeating 
a  superior  force  of  Seminoles.  Ashby  was  severely 
wounded,  and  was  breveted  major  for  gallantry  and  good 
conduct  on  that  occasion. 

Captain  Lloyd  J.  Beall,  of  this  regiment,  with  thirty 
dragoons,  had  a  sharp  skirmish  with  the  Indians  at  New- 
nansville  on  the  17th  of  June,  1838,  and  gave  them  a 
good  drubbing. 

Harney  himself  had  a  most  singular,  and,  to  him,  not 
very  pleasant  experience  with  the  Indians  at  a  trading- 
house  on  the  Carloosahatchee,  on  the  23d  of  July,  1839. 
He  was  there  with  nineteen  dragoons,  when  in  the  night 
the  Indians,  who  had  appeared  friendly  enough,  crept  on 
them,  and  killed  eleven  and  wounded  two  soldiers  out  of 
the  nineteen.  Harney  escaped  with  his  negro  man.  In 
retaliation  for  this  act  of  treachery  on  the  part  of  the 
Seminoles,  he,  with  a  small  party  of  dragoons  and  artil 
lery-men,  made  an  expedition  into  the  Everglades  in  the 
month  of  December,  1840,  and,  falling  upon  a  camp  of 
them,  committed  dreadful  havoc  among  them,  so  that  his 
name  became  a  terror  to  them  far  and  wide.  The  negro 


40  History  of  the 

interpreter,  Sampson,  who  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  In 
dians  at  the  affair  above  mentioned,  gives  a  most  pathetic 
account  of  it,  which  I  copy  from  Sprague's  History  of  the 
Florida  War.  His  account  is  also  interesting,  as  giving 
an  inside  view  of  the  condition  of  the  Indians. 

"I  belonged  to  Colonel  Gad  Humphries,  and  was  cap 
tured  by  the  Indians  at  Micanopy  in  the  year  1837.  I 
lived  with  Osceola,  who  was  my  friend.  He  was  a  good 
Indian,  and  constantly  urged  the  war-parties  to  spare 
women  and  children.  After  he  was  taken  prisoner,  I 
surrendered  at  Fort  Mellon.  I  then  was  an  interpreter 
for  General  Jesup,  who  commanded  the  army.  -In  May, 
1839, 1  was  at  Fort  King  when  the  treaty  was  made  by 
General  Macomb.  In  the  December  following,  supposing 
peace  was  permanently  made,  I  accompanied  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Harney,  2d  Dragoons,  to  the  Carloosahatchee 
Eiver.  He  went  there  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  an 
Indian  trading-house.  He  had  with  him  twenty-seven 
dragoons,  and  Sandy,  an  old  negro  interpreter.  Mr.  Dai- 
ham  and  Mr.  Morgan  were  also  along  with  Indian  goods. 
Three  more  white  men  were  with  us;  one  was  a  clerk 
(an  Englishman);  the  other  a  carpenter;  the  third  the 
captain  of  the  sloop.  The  trading-house  was  established 
about  half  a  mile  from  the  dragoon  encampment.  I  slept 
in  the  store ;  Mr.  Dalham  and  Mr.  Morgan  were  outside, 
one  in  a  bunk,  the  other  in  a  hammock.  On  the  night 
of  the  attack  (the  third  night  after  our  arrival),  we  were 
about  crossing  the  river  to  see  an  Indian  dance,  when  the 
young  Indians  told  us  not  to  go,  as  the  old  men  were  all 
drunk.  Just  at  the  break  of  day  on  the  following  morn 
ing,  I  heard  the  yell  of  Indians  and  discharge  of  rifles ; 


United  Slates  Cavalry.  41 

and  as  I  ran  out  I  found  they  were  all  around  us.  Mr. 
Dalham  lay  dead  under  his  hammock.  Mr.  Morgan  was 
dying,  but  continued  to  talk  some  minutes,  when  an  In 
dian,  placing  a  rifle  close  to  him,  fired.  Still  he  talked, 
when  the  Indian  beat  his  brains  out  with  the  butt  of  his 
rifle.  As  I  ran  for  the  river  several  rifles  were  discharged 
at  me ;  a  ball  struck  my  leg,  which  threw  me  down,  when 
the  Indians  brought  me  back  to  the  store. .  They  took 
Sandy,  the  carpenter,  the  clerk,  and  the  captain  of  the 
sloop  prisoners.  The  yelling  and  discharge  of  rifles  con 
tinued  more  than  an  hour.  When  it  had  become  quiet, 
I  saw  Holatter  Micco,  or  Billy  Bowlegs,  approaching  with 
Sergeant  Simmons,  whose  life  through  his  influence  had 
been  spared,  and  whom  he  protected  three  months,  when, 
by  a  decree  of  the  council,  Sam  Jones  and  the  prophet, 
he  was  put  to  death  in  the  most  cruel  manner.  The  car 
penter  and  the  negro  interpreter,  Sandy,  were  allowed  to 
live  four  days.  They  then  tied  them  to  a  pine-tree,  and 
inserted  in  their  flesh  slivers  of  light  wood,  setting  them 
on  fire,  and  at  the  same  time  placing  torches  at  their  feet. 
In  this  way  it  was  five  or  six  hours  before  they  died. 
The  fate  of  the  clerk  was  never  known.  He  accompa 
nied  a  hunting-party  for  bear,  and  while  in  the  swamp 
separated  from  the  main  body.  Whether  he  joined  the 
whites,  or  died  in  the  swamp  from  hunger  and  fatigue, 
was  never  known.  His  wonderful  tricks  with  cards  gave 
him  authority  among  the  Indians,  and  induced  them  to 
believe  him  a  second  prophet.  The  captain  of  the  sloop 
made  his  escape.  From  conversations  which  I  heard  on 
the  way  to  the  Cypress  Swamp,  it  appeared  that  the  In 
dians  designed  killing  Colonel  Harney.  Sho-nock-Hadjo, 


42  History  of  the 

a  sub-chief,  said  that  the  day  before  the  massacre  he  count 
ed  every  man  in  the  camp,  and  took  the  precaution  to 
see  where  and  in  what  manner  they  slept  at  night.  The 
camp  and  trading-house  were  attacked  at  the  same  mo 
ment.  Hospetarke  led  the  party"  attacking  the  store; 
Chekika,  a  Spanish  Indian,  the  one  upon  the  carnp.  The 
number  of  warriors  who  participated  was  one  hundred 
and  sixty.  One  keg  of  powder  was  obtained,  a  large 
quantity  of  goods,  and  fifteen  hundred  dollars  in  specie. 
The  rifles  belonging  to  the  soldiers,  being  of  Colt's  con 
struction,  were  useless,  and  they  left  them  on  the  ground 
after  taking  off  the  locks.  The  Indians  crossed  to  the 
south  bank  of  the  river  with  their  booty,  where  they  con 
tinued  intoxicated  three  days.  No  division  of  the  plun 
der  was  made.  The  most  active  and  daring  boasted  of 
the  largest  quantity.  The  specie  fell  into  the  hands  of 
one  man.  The  powder  was  taken  possession  of  by  the 
chiefs.  On  the  third  day  after  the  conflict  a  soldier  gave 
himself  up,  exhausted  from  hunger,  and  his  feet  badly  cut 
by  oyster-shells.  He  was  taken  to  the  swamp,  and  for 
some  months  was  required  to  do  the  humble  offices  of  a 
squaw.  The  prophet's  mandates  caused  his  death.  He 
was  sent  a  short  distance  for  wood,  when  the  squaws  fell 
upon  him,  and  beat  out  his  brains  with  pine-knots.  Che 
kika  came  around  the  coast  in  canoes,  and  on  the  fourth 
day  returned,  entering  the  Everglades  by  the  Malco  Kiv- 
er.  As  we  were  returning  to  the  swamp,  it  was  proposed 
to  burn  me  in  the  same  manner  as  they  had  Sandy ;  but, 
through  the  interposition  of  Holatter  Micco,  or  Billy  Bow- 
legs,  my  life  was  spared.  Three  times  the  proposition 
was  made  while  I  was  a  prisoner.  Once  the  prophet  sent 


United  States  Cavalry.  43 

the  order  to  my  master.  For  two  years  I  was  watched 
constantly/  I  feared  the  whites  would  never  come  near 
enough  for  me  to  effect  my  escape.  In  April,  1841,  a 
great  council  was  held  to  prevent  intercourse  with  the 
white  men.  A  law  was  passed  that,  should  any  Indian, 
male  or  female,  be  found  in  communication  with  a  white 
man,  they  should  be  put  to  death.  Plans  were  concerted 
to  convey  information  in  the  most  rapid  manner.  The 
canoes  seen  in  the  Everglades  had  determined  them  to 
keep  within  the  swamp.  It  was  understood  in  council 
that,  being  so  reduced  in  numbers  and  in  so  confined  a 
space,  they  must  now  ambush  the  enemy,  fire,  and  then 
run.  The  powder  was  deposited  with  the  chiefs.  In  all, 
they  had  five  kegs,  four  of  which  were  obtained  at  Indian 
Key  when  it  was  attacked  by  Chekika  and  the  residents 
murdered.  When  going  upon  a  war-party,  each  man 
drew  a  powder-horn  fall ;  but  for  the  purpose  of  hunting 
it  was  purchased^  giving  a  hog  for  five  charges.  In  the 
centre  of  the  swamp  is  the  council-ground.  South  of  this, 
within  ten  miles,  is  the  village  of  Sam  Jones.  Otulke 
Thlocko  (the  prophet)  lives  within  two  miles  of  him. 
Hospetarke's  town  was  near  the  Everglades,  twenty  miles 
from  the  council-house.  Near  him  Passacka,  his  sub- 
chief,  resided.  Trails,  or  footpaths,  communicated  with 
all  these  places.  No  trail  whatever  is  visible  outside  the 
swamp,  as  such  would  guide  their  pursuers.  Within  the 
swamp  are  many  pine  islands,  upon  which  the  villages 
are  located.  They  are  susceptible  of  cultivation;  and 
between  them  is  a  cypress  swamp,  the  water  from  two  to 
three  feet  deep.  The  Indians  rely  principally  upon  their 
crops,  which,  though  small,  add  much  to  their  comfort. 


44  History  of  the 

Corn,  pumpkins,  beans,  peas,  and  melons  are  raised. 
When  these  fail,  roots,  coonta,  berries,  wild  potatoes,  and 
cabbage  palmetto  afford  subsistence.  The  scarcity  of 
powder  deprives  them  partially  of  game,  though  bears 
and  turkeys  are  frequently  killed  with  arrows.  Dis 
charging  a  rifle  was  forbidden,  as  in  a  country  so  flat  and 
wet  the  reverberation  is  heard  at  a  great  distance.  Fish 
and  oysters  on  the  coast  can  be  obtained  in  abundance, 
but  there  they  apprehend  discovery.  A  few  ponies,  cat 
tle,  hogs,  and  chickens  are  owned  by  the  chiefs.  The 
dry  goods  obtained  at  the  massacre  clothes  them  as 
much  as  is  necessary.  The  specie  was  sold  and  manu 
factured  into  silver  ornaments.  No  community  of  feel 
ing  exists  other  than  that  which  is  necessary  for  mutual 
safety.  Dissatisfaction  has  been  often  expressed  by  sub- 
chiefs,  but  no  one  had  been  bold  enough  to  propose  emi 
gration  or  attempt  to  escape  except  Solo  Micco,  who 
came  into  Camp  Ogden,  on  Pease  Cregk.  After  his  es 
cape  scouts  were  sent  out  in  all  directions,  and  the  de 
crees  of  the  council  were  enforced.  If  any  were  suspect 
ed,  the  prophet  visited  them ;  and  by  various  dances,  ges 
tures,  songs,  etc.,  together  with  his  blow-pipe,  proclaimed 
their  fate.  Two  Indians  (a  man  and  woman,  with  a  child) 
were  by  his  means  immediately  put  to  death.  They  were 
found  following  the  family  of  Solo  Micco.  The  prophet, 
they  believed,  could  make  known  the  approach  of  troops, 
find  game,  and  control  the  seasons,  heal  the  .sick,  or  in 
flict  disease  upon  any  one — even  death.  Arpeika,  or  Sam 
Jones,  is  regarded  as  a  medicine-man,  or  doctor.  Plis  ad 
vanced  age  (regarding  such  persons  with  reverence,  as 
the  Indians  do)  attaches  to  his  advice  and  opinions  much 


United  States  Cavalry.  45 

importance.  At  the  commencement  of  the  war  he  plan 
ned  attacks,  fired  the  first  gun,  then  retired  to  take  care 
of  the  wounded.  By  certain  medicines,  and  prayers  offer 
ed  to  the  Great  Spirit,  he  infused  into  the  young  warriors 
a  resolute  daring.  He  instigated  the  attack  upon  Fort 
Mellon,  fired  the  first  rifle,  and  left  Coacooche  to  fight  the 
battle.  The  active  war-chiefs  in  the  Big  Cypress  Swamp 
were  Holatter  Micco,  or  Billy  Bowlegs,  Parsacke,  Sho- 
nock-Hadjo,  and  Chitto  -  Tustenuggee.  They,  together 
with  the  young  sub-chiefs,  headed  the  scouts,  and  exe 
cuted  with  fidelity  the  mandates  of  the  council,  or  the 
wishes  of  Sam  Jones,  or  the  prophet.  The  hanging  of 
several  Indians  in  the  Everglades  by  the  2d  Dragoons 
and  3d  Artillery  in  December,  18-10,  fired  the  indignation 
of  these  chiefs.  They  declared  eternal  hostility  and  cru 
elty  to  the  whites.  "We  have  l  given  them  heretofore,' 
said  Jones, { when  prisoners,  a  decent  death,  and  shot  them 
instead  of  hanging  them  like  a  dog.'  Sam  Jones  is  a 
skillful  navigator  of  the  Everglades,  knows  all  the  secret 
passages,  and  cultivates  fields  in  the  most  inaccessible 
and  remote  places.  If  the  Indians  are  driven  from  the 
swamp  they  must  suffer,  and  if  besieged  their  supplies 
will  soon  be  exhausted." 

The  services  of  the  dragoons  were  of  great  benefit  to 
the  country,  and  they  did  much  toward  bringing  the  un 
ruly  and  restless  spirits  of  the  wretched  Seminoles  to 
terms  of  peace.  Our  war  in  that  section  was  always  un 
popular,  and  the  "  land  of  sun  and  flowers"  proved  the 
spirit  land  for  many  a  noble  soldier. 

But,  with  all  the  hardships  of  a  soldier's  life  in  the  Far 
South,  there  was  some  fun,  and  one  of  the  officers  wrote 


46  History  of  the 

a  song,  which  has  been  sung  by  many  a  dragoon  with 
the  voice  of  a  stentor,  and  moistened  with  old  Bourbon 
during  the  singing.  The  poetry  is  dragoon  poetry,  and 
must  not  be  too  closely  criticised.  The  sentiment  is  good. 
It  is  called  "  The  Dragoon  Bold,"  and  is  as  follows : 

"  Oh !  the  dragoon  bold  he  knows  no  care, 

As  he  rides  along  with  his  uncropp'd  hair ; 

Himself  in  the  saddle  he  lightly  throws, 

And  on  the  weekly  scout  he  goes. 
"At  night  he  camps  in  the  old  pine  wood, 

He  lights  his  fire  and  cooks  his  food ; 

His  saddle-blanket  around  him  throws, 

And  on  the  ground  he  seeks  repose. 
"If  an  anxious  care  should  cross  his  mind, 

'Tis  of  the  girl  he's  left  behind, 

When  he  parted  from  her  in  sorrow  and  woe, 

And  went  to  the  wars  a  long  time  ago. 
"Then  cheer,  boys,  cheer  for  the  girls  afar, 

We'll  all  go  home  at  the  close  of  the  war ; 

And,  sadly  tanned  by  a  Southern  sun, 

We'll  spin  long  yarns  of  the  deeds  we've  done." 

But  the  day  of  the  2d  Dragoons'  wrath  was  at  hand, 
and  Congress,  with  a  most  unwise  piece  of  economy,  or 
dered  the  regiment  to  be  dismounted  and  to  serve  as  rifle 
men.  This  was  done  by  an  Act  of  August  23d,  1842,  to 
take  effect  March  4th,  1843.  The  dragoons  on  this  occa 
sion  composed  another  song,  which  was  any  thing  but 
complimentary  to  the  members  of  Congress,  and  couched 
in  language  which  they  could  not  have  failed  to  under 
stand  had  they  heard  it.  But  the  Congressmen  discov 
ered  their  mistake,  and  gladdened  the  hearts  of  the  regi 
ment  by  remounting  it,  and  restoring  it  to  its  original 
place.  This  Act  was  passed  on  the  4th  of  April,  1844. 


United  States  Cavalry.  47 

Colonel  Dodge,  of  the  1st  regiment,  resigned  in  July, 
1836,  having  been  appointed  governor  of  Wisconsin  Ter 
ritory.  Kearney  was  promoted  colonel ;  Mason,  lieuten 
ant  colonel ;  and  Captain  Clifton  Wharton,  major. 

Captain  John  F.  Lane,  of  the  2d  Dragoons,  acted  as 
colonel  of  a  regiment  of  Creek  mounted  volunteers  in  the 
Florida  War.  David  Moniac,  a  Creek  Indian,  was  major 
of  this  regiment.  He  was  a  graduate  of  West  Point, 
where  he  stood  well,  but,  upon  going  South  and  getting 
among  his  old  companions,  true  to  his  Indian  instinct,  he 
stripped  off  his  uniform  and  changed  it  for  a  blanket 
His  resignation  was  accepted  December  31st,  1822.  He 
again  entered  the  service  as  above  mentioned,  and  was 
killed  while  serving  as  major  at  the  battle  of  Wahoo 
Swamp,  November  21st,  1836. 

Lane  was  disappointed  on  account  of  some  matters  con 
nected  with  the  campaign  against  the  Indians,  and  com 
mitted  suicide  by  falling  upon  his  own  sabre  at  Fort 
Drane,  Florida,  October  19th,  1836.  His  regiment  was 
led,  at  the  battle  of  Wahoo  Swamp,  by  Lieutenant  Col 
onel  Harvey  Brown. 

On  the  8th  of  February,  1837,  four  companies  of  the 
2d  Dragoons,  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Harney,  partici 
pated  in  a  fight  with  the  Seminoles,  near  the  site  of  Fort 
Mellon,  Florida.  The  Indians  were  worsted  with  con 
siderable  loss.  For  gallantry  in  Florida,  Harney  was 
breveted  colonel ;  Captain  Benjamin  L.  Beall,  of  the  same 
regiment,  was  breveted  major;  and  Lieutenant  Arnold, 
captain. 

The  system  of  cavalry  tactics  adapted  to  the  organiza 
tion  of  the  dragoon  regiments  was  authorized  by  Hon.  J. 


48  History  of  the 

E.  Poinsett,  Secretary  of  War,  on  the  10th  of  February, 
1841.  It  is  mainly  a  translation  of  the  tactics  of  the 
French  service,  and  has  not  as  yet  been  improved  upon, 
though  several  attempts  have  been  made,  but  they  have 
all  proved  failures.  I  believe  almost  every  cavalry  offi 
cer  of  experience  considers  the  tactics  of  1841  as  far  su 
perior  to  any  thing  which  has  yet  been  introduced  into 
our  service. 

The  1st  regiment  of  Dragoons,  as  before  stated,  was 
principally  employed  west  of  the  Mississippi  Eiver.  Jef 
ferson  Davis  became  a  first  lieutenant  in  the  regiment  on 
the  4th  of  March,  1833,  and  adjutant  during  1833  and 
1834.  It  would,  no  doubt,  have  been  much  better  for 
the  country  had  he  been  killed  during  that  period ;  but  it 
was  designed  to  be  otherwise,  and  he  resigned  on  the 
30th  of  June,  1835.  Davis,  as  a  cadet,  manifested  a  proud, 
haughty,  and  cold  disposition,  which  he  seems  to  have  re 
tained  through  life.  He  is  eminently  selfish,  and  has  no 
friends  aside  from  those  who  can  be  of  use  to  him.  Nev 
ertheless,  it  must  be  admitted  that  he  was  a  good  officer, 
and  gained  the  respect  of  those  with  whom  he  was  thrown 
in  contact. 

It  is  exceedingly  difficult  at  this  day  to  note  all  of  the 
changes  of  station  which  were  made  by  the  dragoons.  In 
fact,  it  is  impossible,  and  is  of  no  great  consequence  at 
best.  They  established  several  forts  and  encampments, 
roamed  about  from  Fort  Snelling  in  the  Far  North  to 
Fort  Jesup  on  Eed  Eiver,  and  westward  to  the  base  of 
the  Eocky  Mountains.  Their  presence,  particularly  that 
of  the  1st  regiment,  among  the  tribes  of  the  Upper  Mis 
souri,  exerted  a  salutary  influence,  and  protected  the  fron 
tier  settlers  in  their  homes. 


United  States  Cavalry.  49 

A  body  of  Texans,  under  Colonel  Jacob  Snively,  dur 
ing  their  war  for  independence,  invaded  our  territory  for 
the  purpose  of  capturing  a  train  of  Mexican  traders  who 
were  wending  their  way  from  Santa  Fe  to  St.  Louis. 
Captain  P.  St.  George  Cooke,  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  over 
took  these  marauders,  disarmed  them,  and  sent  them  to 
their  homes  south  of  the  Ked  Eiver,  and  let  the  unarmed 
merchants  pursue  their  course  unmolested.  This  occur 
red  on  the  banks  of  the  Arkansas  River  on  the  30th  of 
June,  1843.  For  this  act  Cooke  was  never  popular  among 
the  Texans,  though  there  is  no  doubt  but  his  course  of 
conduct  was  perfectly  proper,  and  served  to  show  that  he 
was  an  officer  who  understood  his  duty,  and  was  determ 
ined  to  do  it 

The  Florida  War  was  a  most  deplorable  affair,  and  a 
vast  amount  of  suffering  sprang  from  it.  For  }^ears  the 
Indians  clung  to  the  homes  of  their  forefathers,  and  it 
was  at  the  cost  of  much  blood  and  treasure  that  they 
were  finally  expelled  from  that  country.  Captain  Ben 
jamin  L.  Beall's  company  killed  AVaxehadjo,  a  celebrated 
chief,  which  no  doubt  had  a  good  effect  upon  the  people, 
and  conduced  toward  bringing  about  a  peace. 

Five  companies  of  the  2d  Dragoons  left  Florida  on  the 
17th  of  October,  1841,  and  moved  to  Fort  Jesup  and  Fort 
Towson,  west  of  the  Mississippi  River ;  the  remaining 
five  companies  were  sent  to  join  them  on  the  29th  of 
May,  1842.  The  regiment  had  served  in  Florida  since 
its  organization  in  June,  1836.  Its  duties  were  incessant 
and  laborious,  and  were  performed  at  all  times  in  the 
most  creditable  manner.  One  officer  was  killed  in  ac 
tion,  and  five  died  from  the  effects  of  the  climate.  Twen- 

C 


50  History  of  the 

ty  non-commissioned  officers,  musicians,  and  privates  were 
killed  in  action,  and  one  hundred  and  ninety-two  died 
from  disease  incident  to  the  service. 

I  can  not  leave  Florida  without  making  the  following 
extract  from  Coacooche,  or  Wild  Cat's  narrative  of  his 
life,  given  after  he  had  surrendered  to  the  whites.  The 
language  and  imagery  are  to  me  most  beautiful,  and  seem 
well  worthy  of  a  child  of  the  Land  of  Flowers.  He  said : 
"In  leaving  Florida  I  leave  behind  me  the  spirits  of  the 
Seminoles.  Their  spirits  have  taken  care  of  me  all  my 
life.  And  the  spirit  of  my  twin -sister  I  leave  behind. 
When  I  am  laid  in  the  earth  I  shall  go  to  and  live  with 
her.  She  died  suddenly.  I  was  out  on  a  bear-hunt, 
and,  when  seated  by  my  camp-fire  alone,  I  heard  a  strange 
noise ;  it  was  something  like  a  voice,  which  told  me  to 
go  to  her.  The  camp  was  some  distance,  but  I  took  my 
rifle  and  started.  The  night  was  dark  and  gloomy ;  the 
wolves  howled  about  me  as  I  went  from  hummock  to 
hummock ;  sounds  came  often  to  my  ear — I  thought  she 
was  speaking  to  me.  At  daylight  I  reached  her  camp  : 
she  was  dead.  When  hunting  some  time  after  with  my 
brother  Otulke,  I  sat  alone  beside  a  large  oak.  In  the 
moss  hanging  over  me  I  heard  strange  sounds ;  I  tried  to 
sleep,  but  could  not.  I  felt  myself  moving,  and  thought 
I  went  far  above  to  a  new  country,  where  all  was  bright 
and  happy.  I  saw  clear  water-ponds,  rivers,  and  prairies, 
on  which  the  sun  never  sets.  All  was  green ;  the  grass 
grew  high,  and  the  deer  stood  in  the  midst  of  it  looking 
at  me.  I  then  saw  a  small  white  cloud  approaching; 
and,  when  just  before  me,  out  of  it  came  my  twin-sister, 
dressed  in  white,  and  covered  with  bright  silver  orna- 


United  States  Cavalry.  51 

h 

ments.  The  long  black  hair,  which  I  had  often  braided, 
hung  down  her  back.  She  clasped  me  around  the  neck, 
and  said/ Coacooche !  Coacooche!'  I  shook  with  fear. 
I  knew  her  voice,  but  could  not  speak.  With  one  hand 
she  gave  me  a  string  of  white  beads ;  in  the  other  she 
held  a  cup  sparkling  with  pure  water,  which  she  said 
came  from  the  spring  of  the  Great  Spirit,  and  if  I  would 
drink  from  it  I  should  return  and  live  with  her  forever. 
As  I  drank  she  sang  the  peace-song  of  the  Seminoles,  and 
danced  around  me.  She  had  silver  bells  on  her  feet, 
which  made  a  loud  noise.  Taking  from  her  bosom  some 
thing,  I  do  not  know  what,  she  laid  it  before  me,  when  a 
bright  blaze  streamed  far  above  us.  She  then  took  me 
by  the  hand,  and  said,  'All  is  peace  here.'  I  wanted  to 
ask  for  others,  but  she  shook  her  head,  waved  her  hand, 
stepped  into  the  cloud,  and  was  gone." 

Wild  Cat  died  at  Laguna  de  Leche,  not  far  from  New 
Laredo,  in  Mexico,  in  the  summer  of  1857. 

The  uniform  of  the  dragoon  soldiers  of  the  United 
States  army  during  the  Florida  and  Mexican  Wars  was 
a  blue  fatigue  jacket  trimmed  with  yellow  lace,  a  flat 
forage  cap  with  a  wide  yellow  band,  and  sky-blue  trow- 
sers  re-enforced,  or,  as  the  soldiers  call  it,  with  a  "  saddle- 
piece,"  with  two  yellow  stripes  up  outside  seam.  The 
dress  uniform  was  a  short  coat  trimmed  with  yellow,  and 
a  heavy  dress  cap,  with  a  long,  drooping  white  horse-hair 
pompon.  The  sash  worn  by  dragoon  officers  was  of  silk 
net,  of  a  deep  orange  color ;  and  that  worn  by  the  non 
commissioned  staff  and  first  sergeants  was  of  yellow  wor 
sted.  The  dress  cap  and  coat,  in  active  service,  was  sel 
dom  if  ever  worn. 


52  History  of  the 

< 

From  1842  until  the  breaking  out  of  difficulties  on  the 
Bio  Grande  frontier,  the  cavalry  had  a  comparatively  easy 
time.  The  Florida  War  was  closed,  though  there  were 
some  disturbances  in  that  region  as  late  as  1856,  but  these 
were  of  minor  importance.  They  were  at  liberty  once 
more  to  sing  the  songs  of  peace,  and  to  enjoy  their  ease 
by  their  camp-fires.  Peace  spread  her  soft  wings  over 
the  land,  and  Plenty  smiled  upon  America. 

"  Secure  Arachne  spread  her  slender  toils  o'er  the  worn  buckler ; 
Eating  rust  consumed  the  vengeful  swords  and  once  far-gleaming  spears ; 
No  more  the  trump  of  war  swelled  its  hoarse  throat, 
Nor  robbed  the  eyelids  of  their  genial  slumber." 


United  States  Cavalry.  53 


CHAPTER  III. 

The  Mexican  War. — Thornton's  Capture. — Lieutenant  Mason  killed. — 
Palo  Alto. — Resaca  de  la  Palma. — May's  Charge. — Rio  Grande  cross 
ed. — Volunteer  Cavalry  Regiments. — Regiment  of  Mounted  Riflemen 
ordered  to  be  raised,  1846.  —  Officers.  — Monterey.  — Cavalry  Opera 
tions  in  California. — Battle  of  San  Pascual. — Captains  Johnson  and 
Moore,  and  Lieutenant  Hammond  killed.  —  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fre 
mont. 

BUT  the  storm  now  commenced  gathering  in  the  Far 
South,  where  the  first  real  fame  of  the  dragoons  was  to 
be  won.  It  is  true,  they  had  done  their  whole  duty  in 
Florida,  and  on  the  wide  plains  which  stretch  from  Mis 
souri  River  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  but  they  had  yet  to 
go  through  the  baptism  of  blood.  The  fields  were  wait 
ing  for  them,  and  the  sabre,  which  for  a  long  time  had 
lain  idle,  was  to  be  drawn  and  sharpened  ready  for  the 
foe.  The  two  regiments  had  confidence  in  themselves, 
and  the  country  had  confidence  in  them.  They  were 
about  to  prove  that  this  confidence  was  not  misplaced, 
and  the  dull  war-drum  was  about  to  awaken  the  nation 
from  its  peaceful  dreams.  Our  dragoons  were  not  only 
good — they  were  excellent;  and  the  thorough  training 
which  they  had  received  was  perfected  by  constant  drill 
and  attention  to  discipline,  and  the  most  trifling  neglect 
met  with  summary  punishment.  They  were  supplied 
with  every  thing  which  could  add  to  their  efficiency, 
though  no  luxuries  were  allowed  them,  and  the  officers 


54  History  of  the 

which  were  left  had  been  winnowed  out  of  an  immense 
amount  of  chaff,  which  had  at  one  time,  through  political 
favoritism,  been  put  into  the  army  to  get  rid  of  it.  But 
both  Twiggs  and  Kearney  understood  their  professions, 
and  many  a  worthless  wight  was  cut  loose  by  them. 

It  is  not  my  intention  to  recount  the  causes  which  led 
to  the  Mexican  War ;  it  is  sufficient  to  know  that  they 
existed,  and  that  the  government  thought  proper,  by  "  the 
act  of  Mexico,"  to  commence  it.  I  am  simply  dealing 
with  facts  which  grew  out  of  the  war,  and  shall  attempt 
to  detail  the  part  borne  by  the  cavalry  in  that  struggle. 

In  the  year  1845  Brevet  Brigadier  General  Zachary 
Taylor  had  assembled  quite  a  respectable  United  States 
force  at  Corpus  Christi,  on  the  coast  of  Texas,  and  early 
in  the  spring  of  1846  moved  on  to  the  Eio  Grande,  and 
threw  up  a  field  work,  which  has  since  been  known  as 
Fort  Brown,  on  the  banks  of  that  stream.  Arista,  the 
Mexican  commander,  hearing  of  this,  sent  a  force  of  twen 
ty-five  hundred  men,  under  General  Torrejon,  to  the  Tex 
as  side  of  the  Eio  Grande,  with  a  view  of  commencing 
"hostilities  against  the  Americans,  and  plainly  stated  such 
to  be  his  intention  to  General  Taylor.  The  latter  sent 
Captain  Thornton,  with  a  squadron  of  the  2d  Dragoons, 
to  watch  his  movements.  He  proceeded  about  sixteen 
miles  above  the  fort,  when  his  guide  refused  to  proceed 
farther ;  but  Thornton,  wishing  to  carry  out  the  full  in 
structions  of  his  general,  and  learn  as  much  as  possible 
of  the  enemy,  whom  he  believed  had  not  yet  crossed 
from  the  Mexican  side  of  the  river,  continued  on.  He 
proceeded  about  three  miles  farther,  when,  halting  near  a 
ranch,  he  sent  his  men  inside  of  an  inclosure,  or  corral, 


United  States  Cavalry.  55 

as  it  is  called,  to  feed  their  horses,  and  soon  followed  him 
self.  At  the  farther  end  the  Mexicans  were  discovered, 
when  the  dragoons  attempted  to  get  outside,  but  found 
the  entrance  closed  upon  them.  Thornton  was  severely 
wounded,  and  his  horse  was  shot  under  him  by  the  first 
fire  of  the  Mexicans,  and  he  lay  under  him.  After  a 
sharp  firing  from  the  enemy,  which  the  dragoons  were 
unable  to  return  with  effect,  as  the  Mexicans  were  outside 
the  pickets  of  the  inclosure,  Captain  Hardee,  who  took 
command  on  the  fall  of  Thornton,  surrendered.  This  oc 
curred  on  the  24th  of  April,  1846. 

Second  Lieutenant  George  T.  Mason  was  killed  in  this 
affair,  and  sixteen  dragoons  were  killed  and  wounded. 
The  prisoners  were  taken  to  Matamoros,  and  were  subse 
quently  exchanged.  This  seemed  rather  an  unfavorable 
commencement  of  hostilities,  and  had  a  dispiriting  influ 
ence  upon  the  army ;  and  General  Taylor  himself  was 
considerably  annoyed  by  it. 

The  fort  was  completed,  and  Taylor,  leaving  a  sufficient 
force  to  guard  it,  started  for  Point  Isabel  to  obtain  sup 
plies  and  then  return.  He  took  with  him  the  greater 
part  of  his  army,  as  the  Mexicans  had  by  this  time  crossed 
the  Eio  Grande  in  large  numbers,  and  a  battle  was  con 
sidered  imminent.  Taylor  obtained  his  supplies,  and 
started  on  his  return  to  Fort  Brown  on  the  7th  of  May, 
having  with  him  a  train  of  three  hundred  wagons.  On 
the  8th  of  May  the  battle  of  Palo  Alto  was  fought.  In 
this  action  CaDtain  Croghan  Ker's  squadron  of  the  2d 
Dragoons  guarded  the  train,  and  the  colonel  of  that  regi 
ment  (Twiggs)  acted  as'  brigadier  general  commanding 
one  of  the  wings  of  the  American  army.  The  dragoons 


56  History  of  the 

did  their  duty  well ;  but  there  was  nothing  particularly 
devolved  upon  them,  and  their  prowess  was  not  put  to 
the  test.  Darkness  put  an  end  to  the  conflict,  and  the 
Mexican  army  during  the  night  changed  its  position,  and 
retired  somewhat  nearer  Fort  Brown,  and  about  seven 
miles  from  the  first  battle-field. 

Sending  his  wounded  to  Point  Isabel,  and  leaving  his 
train  with  a  sufficient  guard  at  Palo  Alto,  Taylor  moved 
forward  with  his  army,  and  came  up  with  the  Mexican 
force  at  a  place  known  as  Eesaca  de  la  Palma.  Here  he 
found  it  necessary  to  attack  the  enemy  under  most  dis 
advantageous  circumstances,  but  knowing  it  would  not 
do  to  falter,  he  sent  his  troops  forward,  and  the  action 
commenced.  A  deep  ravine  separated  the  two  armies, 
which  was  defended  on  the  Mexican  side  by  a  number 
of  pieces  of  artillery,  which  kept  up  a  heavy  firing  upon 
the  Americans  as  they  advanced.  The  American  infan 
try  was  broken  up  in  small  parties  trying  to  force  the 
passage  of  the  ravine,  when  Taylor  ordered  Captain 
Charles  A.  May's  squadron  of  the  2d  Dragoons  forward 
to  charge  a  battery  which  annoyed  our  people  excessive 
ly.  May's  squadron  consisted  of  his  own  and  Lawrence 
Pike  Graham's  companies,  and  moved  forward  down  the 
road  at  a  gallop,  and  pulling  up  for  a  moment  when  near 
Eidgely's  battery  of  artillery,  the  latter  poured  a  heavy 
fire  into  the  Mexicans,  and  May  went  thundering  forward 
with  the  dragoons  under  cover  of  the  smoke.  On  they 
went  among  the  Mexicans,  who,  frightened  by  their  im 
petuosity,  broke  in  all  directions,  and  their  guns  were 
captured.  But  in  the  melee,  of  course,  the  dragoons  were 
greatly  scattered,  and  riding  about  furiously  amid  the 


United  States  Cavalry.  59 

smoke  of  battle.  May,  however,  rallied  a  party,  and,  tak 
ing  General  La  Vega  prisoner,  carried  him  off  under  a 
severe  fire  from  the  Mexican  infantry.  Kidgely  had 
meanwhile  galloped  forward  with  his  guns,  and,  halting 
for  a  short  time  for  the  dragoons  to  get  out  of  the  way, 
poured  a  terrible  fire  into  the  Mexicans,  who  had  again 
formed  near  their  guns.  The  8th  Infantry  and  a  portion 
of  the  5th  came  down  the  road  at  double-quick  under 
Colonel  Belknap,  crossed  the  ravine,  and  the  battle  was 
won.  Some  parties  kept  up  the  firing  some  time  longer, 
and  the  Mexicans  gradually  faded  away  in  the  distance. 
This  was  a  fine  cavalry  charge ;  in  fact,  one  of  the  finest 
ever  made  in  America.  First  Lieutenant  Zebulon  M.  P. 
Inge  was  killed,  as  well  as  several  dragoons,  and  quite  a 
number  were  wounded.  May  was  breveted  lieutenant 
colonel  for  his  conduct  in  this  battle ;  Captain  Graham 
was  breveted  major ;  First  Lieutenants  Ripley,  A.  Ar 
nold,  and  Oscar  F.WinshipjWere  breveted  captains;  and 
Second  Lieutenants  Alfred  Pleasanton  and  Delos  B. 
Sackett  were  breveted  first  lieutenants — all  of  them  of 
the  2d  Dragoons.  The  fame  of  this  charge  added  greatly 
to  the  reputation  of  the  dragoons,  and  they  were  popular 
with  the  army  from  that  day. 

After  the  battle  Taylor's  force  continued  its  course  to 
ward  the  Eio  Grande,  and  reached  Fort  Brown  in  safety. 
He  prepared  to  cross  that  river,  and  by  the  20th  of  May 
his  whole  force,  except  the  garrison  at  Fort  Brown  and 
a  small  party  at  Point  Isabel,  was  on  the  soil  of  Mexico. 
In  crossing  the  river  on  the  18th  of  that  month,  Second 
Lieutenant  George  Stevens,  2d  Dragoons,  an  officer  of 
promise,  was  drowned. 


60  History  of  the 

Taylor's  army  did  not  remain  long  at  Matamoros,  but 
gradually  worked  its  way  up  the  Eio  Grande.  Boats 
were  brought  from  the  United  States,  and  means  of  trans 
portation  were  accumulated  before  a  forward  movement 
was  attempted,  and  twelve  months'  volunteers  were  called 
for  by  the  President.  In  response  to  this  call,  besides 
the  infantry  which  flocked  round  the  old  flag,  Kentucky 
sent  one  regiment  of  cavalry,  under  Colonel  Humphrey 
Marshall;  Tennessee  one,  under  Colonel  Jonas  E.Thom 
as;  Missouri  two,  under  Colonels  Alexander  W.  Doni- 
phan  and  Sterling  Price ;  Arkansas  one,  under  Colonel 
Archibald  Yell;  Eastern  Texas  one,  under  Colonel  George 
T.  Wood ;  and  Western  Texas  one,  under  Colonel  John 
C.  Hays. 

Congress  also  passed  a  law  by  which  both  Colonel 
Twiggs  and  Kearney,  of  the  dragoon  regiments,  became 
brigadier  generals ;  whereupon  Mason  became  colonel  of 
the  1st  Dragoons,  and  Harney  colonel  of  the  2d.  Cap 
tain  Eustace  Trenor  was  promoted  major  of  the  1st,  and 
Captain  Edwin  Y.  Sumner,  major  of  the  2d. 

On  the  19th  of  May,  1846,  a  law  was  passed  by  Con 
gress  to  provide  for  establishing  military  stations  on  the 
route  to  Oregon,  and  to  raise  a  regiment  of  mounted  rifle 
men.  It  was  raised  accordingly,  though  it  was  not  sent 
to  Oregon,  but  upon  its  completion  was  sent  to  Mexico, 
where  (with  the  exception  of  two  companies  which  were 
mounted)  it  did  a  great  deal  of  good  service  as/oo^  rifle 
men,  the  horses  of  the  regiment  having  been  lost  by  ship 
wreck  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  no  opportunity  occur 
ring  for  getting  a  re-mount. 

Colonel  Persifer  F.  Smith,  of  Louisiana,  was  selected 


United  States  Cavalry.  61 

for  colonel  of  this  regiment.  He  was  a  lawyer  of  New 
Orleans,  but  had  seen  service  as  colonel  of  a  regiment  of 
Louisiana  volunteers  during  the  Florida  War,  and,  as 
brigadier  general  of  a  brigade  of  six  regiments  of  Louisi 
ana  six  months'  men,  who  first  went  to  re-enforce  Gen 
eral  Taylor.  He  was  a  good  soldier,  having  given  a  great 
deal  of  attention  to  military  affairs  while  a  citizen ;  and 
soon  after  being  appointed  was  placed  in  command  of  a 
brigade  of  regulars. 

Brevet  Captain  John  C.  Fremont,  of  the  Topographical 
Engineers,  was  selected  as  the  lieutenant  colonel.  He 
was  born  in  South  Carolina,  had  seen  considerable  serv 
ice,  and  was  mainly  known  at  that  time  on  account  of  his 
explorations  to  and  beyond  the  Eocky  Mountains.  At 
the  time  of  his  appointment  he  was  among  the  mount 
ains,  and  led  a  battalion  of  mounted  California  volun 
teers,  mostly  American  mountaineers,  in  the  conquest  of 
California.  He  never  served  with  his  regiment. 

George  S.  Burbridge,  of  Kentucky,  was  appointed  ma 
jor.  His  service  was  of  an  unimportant  character,  and 
he  resigned  on  the  8th  of  January,  18-18. 

General  Taylor,  after  leaving  suitable  garrisons  at  dif 
ferent  points  on  the  Eio  Grande,  moved  up  that  stream 
with  a  majority  of  his  army  to  Camargo,  and  on  the  19th 
of  August  set  out  for  Monterey,  where  it  was  known  a 
large  force  of  Mexicans  had  assembled,  and  had  fortified 
the  town  to  a  very  considerable  extent  By  this  time 
many  of  the  volunteers  had  arrived  from  the  North,  and 
had  been  organized  into  a  division  under  General  Butler, 
of  Kentucky.  The  mounted  force  which  accompanied 
the  army  consisted  of  four  companies  of  the  2d  Dragoons, 


62  History  of  the 

under  Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel  May,  who  had  distin 
guished  himself  at  Palo  Alto  and  at  Kesaca  de  la  Palma ; 
Colonel  Jack  Hays's  and  Colonel  Woods's  regiments  of 
Texans,  or,  as  they  were  called,  "  Texas  Bangers."  These 
rangers  were  good  troops  for  reconnoissances  and  for 
scouting,  but  were  not  of  the  best  class  for  any  thing  like 
regular  movements.  The  march  was  not  opposed  in  any 
manner,  though  parties  of  Mexican  lancers  were  frequent 
ly  seen  ahead  on  the  road;  but  they  did  not  interfere, 
being  thrown  out  by  their  own  commander  to  watch  our 
operations. 

On  the  19th  of  September  Taylor  arrived  in  front  of 
Monterey.  This  city,  the  capital  of  the  State  of  Nuevo 
Leon,  is  situated  on  the  little  river  San  Juan,  in  the  midst 
of  a  delightful  plain,  which  is  shut  in  on  the  west  by  lofty 
spurs  of  the  Sierra  Madre  Mountains.  Pure  streams  of 
fresh  water  trickle  down  the  mountains,  and  in  the  irri 
gated  bottom  lands  the  finest  crops  can  be  raised  without 
difficulty.  It  was  at  that  time  a  town  of  about  ten  thou 
sand  inhabitants,  and,  though  far  away  on  the  frontier, 
possessed  some  fine  buildings  and  a  good  population. 
Ampudia,  the  Mexican  commandant,  had  used  every 
means  in  his  power  to  strengthen  the  place,  and  had  as 
sured  his  own  government  that  he  was  able  to  check  the 
farther  advance  of  the  Americans  into  the  interior.  Ilis 
force  was  made  up  of  regular  and  irregular  Mexican  sol 
diers,  and,  on  the  whole,  was  a  very  respectable  army. 

General  Taylor  arranged  his  plan  of  attack  on  the 
morning  of  the  20th.  General  Worth,  with  his  division, 
was  ordered  to  move  round  to  the  right  of  the  town 
through  the  corn-fields,  and  gain,  if  possible,  the  Saltillo 


United  States  Cavalry.  63 

road  above  it,  and  thus  cut  off  supplies  and  re-enforce 
ments  which  were  expected  to  arrive  for  the  Mexicans 
from  the  interior. 

Twiggs's  division  was  to  attack  in  front,  together  with 
the  volunteers  under  Butler.  The  mounted  force  which 
accompanied  Worth  in  his  detour  to  the  right  consisted 
of  Hays's  rangers ;  but  Taylor,  thinking  this  not  strong 
enough,  sent  May's  four  companies  of  dragoons  and 
Woods's  regiment  to  re-enforce  him.  The  attack  upon 
the  town  had  by  this  time  commenced,  and  the  Mexicans 
were  returning  our  fire  in  the  most  determined  and  spir 
ited  manner.  Upon  arriving  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Hill 
of  Independence,  on  his  way  to  join  Worth,  May  found 
the  fire  of  the  guns  upon  its  summit  too  hot  for  him,  and 
halted  out  of  range  of  them.  General  Henderson  soon 
arrived  with  Woods's  regiment,  when  he  assumed  com 
mand,  and  sent  back  to  Taylor  for  instructions  as  to  what 
he  should  do ;  but  the  cavalry  arrived  too  late  to  be  of 
any  service  on  the  east. 

Meantime  Twiggs  and  Butler  were  working  away  at 
the  city,  and  Worth  was  moving  round.  On  the  21st, 
as  Hays's  regiment  was  passing  a  spur  of  the  mountains, 
it  came  suddenly  upon  a  Mexican  regiment  of  Guana 
juato  lancers,  supported  by  an  infantry  force.  As  soon 
as  they  were  discovered,  Hays  halted  his  regiment,  de 
ployed,  and  moved  down  to  a  corn-field,  where  two  com 
panies  were  dismounted,  and  placed  in  ambush  amid  the 
thick  bushes  and  fences  of  the  field.  One  company  push 
ed  forward,  fired,  and  returned  toward  the  main  body, 
pursued  by  the  lancers,  who  came  on  in  fine  style.  The 
lancers  galloped  on,  but  were  met  by  Smith's  battalion 


64  -  History  of  the 

of  infantry,  which  was  advancing  in  open  order.  The 
skirmishers  opened  a  scattering  fire,  but  the  lancers,  un 
der  Lieutenant  Colonel  Don  Juan  Najira,  seemed  not  dis 
posed  to  halt  or  give  way.  At  this  moment,  however, 
the  Texans,  who  were  dismounted  and  concealed  in  the 
bushes,  opened  a  most  deadly  fire  upon  them,  when  thej- 
turned,  and  tried  to  get  back  to  the  Saltillo  road.  Their 
efforts  in  this  direction  were  foiled,  when  they  attempted 
to  cross  over  the  hill,  which  was  clear  of  our  men,  and 
presented  their  only  chance  of  escape.  None  succeeded ; 
and  the  gallant  young  Colonel  Najira,  who  refused  to  sur 
render  although  left  alone,  was  struck  by  a  bullet,  and 
rolled  off  his  horse  dead.  His  behavior  in  this  fight  elic 
ited  the  admiration  of  every  one. 

The  Mexican  infantry  fell  back,  and  Worth  pushed  his 
men  forward  toward  La  loma  Federation.  The  fight 
above  described  was  the  only  one  which  occurred  during 
the  attack  upon  Monterey,  which  was  carried  on  by  the 
cavalry  alone.  The  Texas  troops  dismounted,  and  fought 
their  way  into  town  on  foot  with  the  other  troops;  but 
it  is  not  my  province  to  do  with  the  operations  of  infant 
ry,  which  would  lead  rne  into  giving  almost  endless  de 
tails. 

After  a  most  sanguinary  conflict  of  three  days'  dura 
tion,  the  Mexican  force  capitulated  and  surrendered  the 
city  to  the  Americans.  During  the  morning  of  the  25th 
the  Mexican  garrison  evacuated  the  citadel,  and  on  suc 
cessive  days  the  different  corps  left  the  town  and  marched 
to  Saltillo.  On  the  28th  the  last  corps  left  the  town  and 
Worth  occupied  it  with  his  division. 

While  these  events  were  transpiring  on  the  soil  of 


United  States  Cavalry.  65 

Northern  Mexico,  events  of  the  most  startling  character, 
and  which  have  been  of  the  greatest  importance,  were  be 
ing  carried  on  in  California,  and  on  the  plains  between 
the  Mississippi  Kiver  and  the  Pacific.  Captain  Fremont, 
with  a  command  made  up  of  mountaineers  and  back 
woodsmen  well  mounted,  had  made  his  way  beyond  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  and  had  visited  a  portion  of  the  Ter 
ritory  of  Oregon ;  but  the  winter  approaching,  and  he  see 
ing  no  safe  and  secure  place  in  which  to  pass  it,  pushed 
his  way  south,  and  in  the  month  of  January,  1846,  ar 
rived  within  one  hundred  miles  of  Monterey,  California, 
which  is  situated  on  the  Pacific  Ocean.  As  his  animals 
needed  recruiting,  he  determined  to  halt  in  the  valley  of 
the  San  Joaquin,  which  was  .filled  with  game,  and  which 
he  had  previously  explored.  Besides  this,  he  found  good 
water  and  abundance  of  grass,  articles  which  he  mostly 
stood  in  need  of.  To  avoid  trouble,  he  left  his  party  in 
the  valley  of  the  San  Joaquin,  and  proceeded  in  person 
to  Monterey  to  visit  General  De  Castro,  the  military  eom- 
mandante,  where  he  explained  his  wants,  and,  as  his  was 
purely  an  expedition  of  a  peaceful  character,  he  having 
been  sent  out  in  the  first  instance  by  our  government  to 
make  explorations  of  roads  and  routes  leading  from  our 
"Western  settlements  to  the  then  far-off  country  of  Ore 
gon,  De  Castro,  after  some  demur,  gave  his  sanction  to 
Fremont's  remaining  for  a  time,  and  the  latter  left  to  join 
his  little  command  of  mounted  men,  thinking  all  was 
right,  and  that  he  would  have  no  trouble.  In  this,  how 
ever,  he  was  mistaken.  Scarcely  had  he  left  De  Castro 
before  that  wily  Mexican  sent  out  his  messengers  calling 
upon  the  people  to  rise  and  expel  Fremont  and  his  little 


66  History  of  the 

band  of  Americans.  This  news  was  immediately  trans 
mitted  to  Fremont,  when  he  moved  with  his  command 
within  thirty  miles  of  Monterey,  and  took  a  position  on 
the  San  Juan  Mountain,  commonly  called  "Gavilan," 
where  he  was  enabled  to  overlook  an  immense  extent  of 
country,  and  here  he  unfurled  the  United  States  flag,  de 
termined  to  stand  or  fall  in  its  defense.  De  Castro  ap 
proached  with  his  forces,  but  did  not  attack  Fremont ; 
and,  after  remaining  in  a  threatening  attitude  for  several 
days,  the  Americans  abandoned  the  mountain,  and  started 
for  Oregon.  De  Castro  followed  with  a  force,  which  out 
numbered  Fremont's  six  times  over,  and  continued  to 
dog"  his  trail  for  several  days. 

Finally,  however,  De  Castro  gave  up  the  pursuit,  and 
Fremont  continued  on  his  course,  his  progress  north  be 
ing  impeded  by  natural  obstacles,  and  by  the  hostility  of 
the  Tlamath  Indians,  who  attacked  him,  and  killed  and 
wounded  several  of  his  men. 

On  the  9th  of  May  he  was  overtaken  by  Lieutenant 
Gillespie,  of  the  Marine  Corps,  who  had  made  his  way 
across  the  Eepublic  of  Mexico  from  Yera  Cruz  to  Mazat- 
lan.  From  him  he  learned  the  condition  of  affairs  in  the 
States,  and  the  likelihood  of  a  war  with  Mexico.  De 
termining,  therefore,  to  return  and  face  the  danger  which 
threatened  him  in  rear,  and  to  protect  the  American  set 
tlers  who  lived  on  the  banks  of  the  Kio  de  los  Ameri 
canos,  whom  De  Castro  had  proclaimed  his  intention  of 
expelling  from  the  country,  he  returned  to  the  Bay  of 
San  Francisco  with  his  party.  The  security  of  his  own 
men,  and  of  his  countrymen  living  in  California,  made  it 
necessary  that  decided  and  prompt  measures  should  be 


United  States  Cavalry.  67 

taken  at  once,  and,  after  due  deliberation,  he  determined 
to  overthrow  the  Mexican  authority  in  California.  This 
took  place  on  the  6th  of  June,  1846. 

Fremont  commenced  operations  by  seizing,  on  the  llth 
of  June,  a  drove  of  two  hundred  horses,  which  was  on  its 
Way  to  De  Castro's  camp  in  charge  of  an  officer  and  four 
teen  men.  He  next  attacked  the  military  post  of  Sono 
ma,  which  was  taken  on  the  15th  of  the  same  month,  to 
gether  with  the  garrison,  consisting  of  General  Vallejo, 
several  officers  and  men,  nine  brass  cannon,  and  two  hund 
red  and  fifty  stand  of  arms.  Leaving  a  small  guard  at 
Sonoma,  Fremont  set  out  for  the  Kio  de  los  Americanos, 
where  he  assembled  the  American  settlers,  and  gained 
several  volunteers  from  among  them,  for  his  party  had 
up  to  this  time  been  made  up  of  but  few  men,  but  they 
were  brave  and  determined.  Hearing  that  De  Castro  in 
tended  to  attack  Sonoma  during  his  absence,  he  started 
immediately  on  his  return.  He  received  this  news  on 
the  afternoon  of  the  23d  of  June,  and  before  two  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  25th  he  was  again  at  Sonoma, 
with  ninety  men,  having  ridden  the  intervening  distance 
during  that  time.  It  must  be  admitted  that  this  was/azr 
cavalry  marching.  He  attacked  the  Mexicans  under 
De  la  Torre,  one  of  De  Castro's  subordinates,  defeated 
him  near  Sonoma,  and  he  escaped  after  losing  his  boats 
and  artillery,  which  had  been  spiked. 

Having  succeeded  in  driving  the  Mexicans  from  the 
northern  shore  of  the  bay,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont 
(for  he  had  been  promoted,  as  before  stated,  as  lieutenant 
colonel  of  the  Mounted  Eifle  regiment)  returned  to  So 
noma  July  4th.  He  called  the  Americans  together,  and, 


68  History  of  the 

after  explaining  the  state  of  affairs  to  them,  a  declaration 
of  independence  from  Mexico  was  agreed  upon,  and  Fre 
mont  was  chosen  as  the  director  of  affairs.  De  Castro 
meantime  had  established  himself  at  Santa  Clara,  where 
he  had  intrenched  himself  on  the  south  side  of  the  bay, 
with  two  pieces  of  cannon  and  four  hundred  men.  The 
Americans  decided  to  attack  him,  and,  moving  forward, 
they  traveled  one  hundred  miles  in  three  days,  and,  reach 
ing  the  American  settlements  at  the  forks  of  the  Sacra 
mento,  learned  that  De  Castro  had  abandoned  his  works 
at  Santa  Clara,  and  retreated  to  the  Cuidad  de  los  An 
geles  on  the  Pacific,  which  was  the  place  of  residence  of 
the  governor  general  of  the  Californias,  and  about  four 
hundred  miles  south  of  San  Francisco.  Every  thing  was 
prepared  for  following  De  Castro,  when  news  of  the  dec 
laration  of  war  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico 
reached  Fremont,  and  that  Commodore  Sloat,  who  com 
manded  the  American  squadron  on  the  Pacific,  had  taken 
the  different  Mexican  ports.  Commodore  Sloat,  Commo 
dore  Stockton,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont  met  to 
gether  at  Monterey  in  July,  and  soon  after  Sloat,  whose 
health  was  very  much  impaired,  returned  to  the  United 
States.  Stockton  was  left  in  command  of  the  squadron, 
and  co-operated  heartily  with  Fremont.  On  the  25th  of 
July  Fremont's  battalion  was  taken  on  board  the  United 
States  ship  Cyane,  and  started  for  the  Cuidad  de  los  An 
geles,  where  Governor  Pico  and  General  De  Castro  had 
assembled  a  large  Mexican  force.  The  force  of  Fremont 
was  landed  in  due  time  at  San  Diego,  but  there  he  found 
it  extremely  difficult  to  procure  a  re-mount  of  horses. 
However,  after  much  labor,  he  succeeded,  and  then  start- 


United  States  Cavalry.  69 

ed  to  join  Stockton,  who  had  landed  at  San  Pedro,  and 
who  was  drilling  his  sailors  and  marines  for  duty  on  land. 
While  these  officers  were  preparing  themselves  for  bat 
tle,  Stockton  received  some  messages  from  De  Castro. 
To  these  he  replied,  telling  him  he  would  attack  him  as 
soon  as  he  had  prepared  his  forces.  Stockton  started  for 
the  Cuidad  de  los  Angeles,  and  sent  word  to  Fremont  to 
join  him  en  route.  The  Americans,  as  they  neared  that 
place,  learned  that  the  Mexican  leaders  had  become  fright 
ened,  and  were  on  their  way  to  the  Mexican  state  of  So- 
nora,  which  was  farther  south.  Upon  learning  this,  Stock 
ton  and  Fremont  entered  the  city  on  the  15th  of  August, 
and  on  the  17th  Stockton  issued  a  proclamation  announc 
ing  the  conquest  of  California,  and  promising  a  govern 
ment  similar  to  that  of  the  American  Territories  as  soon 
as  it  could  be  established.  Stockton  announced  himself 
as  governor,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont  military 
commandant. 

In  the  mean  time,  Colonel  Kearney  (he  had  not  yet  re 
ceived  his  promotion)  had  started  from  Fort  Leaven  - 
worth  with  a  force  of  eight  companies  of  dragoons  and 
some  volunteers  for  the  conquest  of  New  Mexico.  He 
was  followed  on  his  way  by  a  band  of  Mormons,  who 
were  mustered  into  the  service,  and  formed  into  a  battal 
ion  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  P.  St.  George 
Cooke,  who  was  then  a  captain  in  the  1st  Dragoons. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  James  Allen,  the  first  commander  of 
this  battalion,  was  also  a  captain  in  the  1st  Dragoons,  but 
died  at  Leavenworth  on  the  23d  of  August,  1846.  The 
regular  dragoons  were  commanded  by  Sumner.  Pursu 
ing  the  military  road  to  the  westward,  the  "  Army  of  the 


70  History  of  the 

West"  crossed  the  grassy  prairies  which  lie  between  the 
Missouri  and  Kansas  Rivers,  which  are  in  summer  clothed 
with  the  most  luxuriant  verdure,  and  gemmed  with  flow 
ers.  On  the  4th  of  July  they  struck  the  main  road  lead 
ing  from  Independence  to  Santa  Fe  at  Elm  Grove,  and 
were  soon  upon  the  great  plains,  which  extend  for  miles 
and  miles  in  every  direction,  giving  pasture-ground  to 
the  buffalo  and  elk,  and  whose  solitary  echoes  had  then 
but  infrequently  been  broken  by  the  sound  of  human 
voices.  Occasionally  they  passed  small  water-courses, 
which  were  wending  their  way  toward  the  great  "  Father 
of  Waters,"  and  then  upon  the  sandy  plains,  where  the 
short,  dry  grass  was  interspersed  with  stunted  bushes. 
Trees  were  scarce,  and  only  seen  at  long  intervals.  The 
army  reached  the  Arkansas  on  the  19th  of  July,  and  con 
tinued  its  march  along  the  northern  bank  to  Bent's  Fort, 
which  was  a  small  post  erected  by  some  citizens  for  a 
trading  post  with  the  Indians.  This  was  the  rendezvous 
of  the  different  detachments,  and  here  a  large  amount  of 
provisions  had  previously  been  stored  for  Kearney's  force. 
At  this  place  Kearney  rested  his  men,  and  supplied  his 
artillery  with  mules,  his  horses  having  become  complete 
ly  broken  down.  He  then  pushed  forward  toward  New 
Mexico.  After  leaving  the  valley  of  the  Arkansas  he 
came  into  a  mountainous  country.  His  road  lay  along 
the  spurs  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  near  the  head  waters 
of  the  Cimaron  and  Canadian  Rivers,  and  those  of  the 
Rio  Grande. 

Colonel  Kearney  reached  Santa  Fe  on  the  18th  of  Au 
gust  without  any  incident  occurring  worthy  of  note,  and 
assumed  control  of  affairs.  He  issued  a  proclamation  de- 


United  States  Cavalry.  71 

claring  New  Mexico  to  be  a  part  of  the  United  States, 
and  absolving  the  inhabitants  from  their  allegiance  to  the 
Mexican  government,  and  claiming  them  as  American 
citizens.  A  civil  government  was  organized,  and  the 
proper  officers  appointed. 

Seeing  every  thing  in  a  fair  way  of  doing,  Kearney  set 
out  for  California  on  the  25th  of  September,  to  assist,  if 
necessary,  in  the  conquest  of  that  country.  On  the  5th 
of  October,  1846,  he  met  an  express  from  Commodore 
Stockton  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont  reporting  that 
they  were  already  in  possession  of  that  country,  and  that 
the  war  in  that  section  was  ended.  On  receiving  this 
welcome  news,  General  Kearney,  who  had  received  his 
promotion,  directed  Major  Sumn£r,  with  a  portion  of  the 
dragoons,  to  return  to  the  States,  and  he,  with  his  dra 
goon  escort,  pushed  forward  for  California.  After  a  long 
and  most  tedious  journey,  he  entered  the  Territory  of 
California  in  November,  and  halted  a  short  time  to  rest 
in  the  frontier  settlements.  Here  he  learned  that  a  coun 
ter-revolution  had  broken  out  in  California,  and  sent  word 
to  Commodore  Stockton  to  open  communications  with 
him.  "Without  waiting  for  a  reply,  he  pushed  forward 
on  the  5th  of  December,  and  about  forty  miles  from  San 
Diego  met  Captain  Gillespie,  who  had  come  from  the 
shores  of  the  Pacific  Ocean  to  meet  him. 

It  appears  that  after  Stockton  and  Fremont  had  taken 
the  Cuidad  de  los  Angeles  (City  of  the  Angels),  and  Gov 
ernor  Pico  and  De  Castro  had  retreated  to  Sonora,  they 
went  north  to  San  Francisco,  at  which  place  they  de 
signed  to  make  arrangements  for  an  attack  upon  Aca- 
pulco  and  Mazatlan,  on  the  Pacific  side  of  the  Mexican 


72  History  of  the 

Eepublic.  While  doing  this,  however,  a  revolt  was 
brought  about  among  the  Mexicans,  who  did  not  seem 
inclined  to  acquiesce  at  once  in  the  newly-rnade  govern 
ment.  A  fight  had  taken  place  between  the  sailors  and 
marines  of  the  Pacific  squadron  and  the  Mexicans  a  short 
distance  from  San  Pedro,  which  did  not  prove  very  san 
guinary,  as  the  Mexicans  kept  retreating;  and  another 
uprising  of  the  people  took  place  at  Santa  Barbara,  which 
was  easily  put  down.  Fremont  came  down  the  coast 
with  his  men,  and,  landing  at  Monterey,  after  some  diffi 
culty  succeeded  in  providing  horses  for  them,  and  then 
marched  toward  the  capital.  Matters  were  in  this  con 
dition  when  Kearney  reached  the  Territory. 

On  his  way  to  join  GTeneral  Kearney,  Captain  Gillespie 
learned  that  a  large  force  of  Mexicans  was  at  San  Pas- 
cual,  about  fifteen  miles  from  his  camp,  on  another  road 
leading  to  San  Diego.  Lieutenant  Hammond  was  sent 
forward  to  make  a  reconnoissance  in  the  evening,  and  re 
turned  about  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  6th  of 
December.  He  reported  that  he  had  found  the  enemy, 
but  that  they  had  made  no  effort  to  pursue  him.  Upon 
learning  this,  General  Kearney  determined  to  attack  them. 
Captain  Johnston,  1st  Dragoons,  with  twelve  soldiers,  led 
the  advance;  they  were  mounted  on  the  best  horses. 
Captain  Moore  followed  with  fifty  dragoons,  who  were 
mostly  mounted  on  mules,  their  horses  having  been 
broken  down  in  the  long  march  from  Santa  Fe.  Cap 
tain  Gillespie's  volunteers  came  next;  then  two  mount 
ain  howitzers,  manned  by  dragoons,  and  under  command 
of  Lieutenant  Davidson ;  the  rest  of  the  troops,  including 
the  men  from  the  Pacific  squadron  under  Lieutenant 


United  States  Cavalry.  73 

Beall  and  Passed  Midshipman  Duncan,  of  the  Navy,  re 
mained  in  rear  with  the  baggage,  under  Major  Swords. 

At  daybreak  on  the  6th  of  December,  the  enemy  was 
discovered,  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  strong,  under 
Andres  Pico,  brother  of  the  governor.  Captain  Johnston 
immediately  charged  upon  them,  and  they  gave  way. 
General  Kearney  followed,  with  Captain  Moore  and  the 
other  dragoons,  when,  becoming  somewhat  scattered,  the 
Mexicans  turned  rapidly  and  unexpectedly  upon  their 
pursuers,  and  a  most  bloody  conflict  ensued,  the  Mexi 
cans  inflicting  dangerous  wounds  with  their  long  lances, 
and  having  an  immense  advantage  over  our  men  in  the 
fact  that  their  horses  were  fresh,  whereas  those  of  our 
dragoons  were  nearly  broken  down  by  the  long  march 
which  they  had  made.  For  five  minutes  the  conflict  was 
terrible ;  but  on  the  approach  of  the  forces  in  rear,  the 
Mexicans  gave  way,  carrying  most  of  their  killed  and 
wounded  with  them.  Lieutenant  Davidson  was  unable 
to  bring  his  howitzers  into  action,  as  at  the  commence 
ment  of  the  fight  the  mules  before  them  became  fright 
ened  and  unmanageable. 

In  this  action  our  country  lost  three  most  valuable 
officers  of  the  1st  regiment  Dragoons,  who  were  killed. 
They  were  Captain  Abram  E.  Johnston,  of  Ohio ;  Cap 
tain  Benjamin  D.  Moore,  of  Illinois ;  and  Second  Lieu 
tenant  Thomas  C.  Hammond,  of  Pennsylvania.  Sixteen 
non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  were  also  killed 
or  mortally  wounded.  Brigadier  General  Kearney  was 
twice  severely  wounded,  besides  several  officers  and  sol 
diers.  For  his  gallantry  at  this  action  he  was  made  a 
brevet  major  general.  Having  inflicted  this  loss  upon 

D 


74  History  of  the 

our  soldiers,  the  Mexicans  retired.  A  large  body  soon 
after  showed  itself  in  rear  of  the  Americans,  which  cre 
ated  some  uneasiness  for  the  safety  of  the  train,  but  it 
was  safely  brought  up,  and  the  Americans  encamped 
near  the  scene  of  the  fight.  On  the  following  day  the 
last  sad  rites  were  performed  for  the  dead ;  the  wounded 
were  cared  for,  and  the  survivors  wended  their  way  sor 
rowfully  toward  the  Pacific.  Captain  Henry  S.  Turner, 
1st  Dragoons,  took  command  after  General  Kearney  fell 
wounded,  and  he  subsequently  was  breveted  major  for 
gallantry  during  that  battle,  and  others  in  which  he  aft 
erward  participated. 

The  enemy  appeared  in  front  on  the  day  after  the  bat 
tle,  and  took  post  at  San  Bernardino  among  the  hills, 
where  they  seemed  inclined  to  make  a  stand;  but  our 
advance  drove  them  from  their  position,  and  then  halted. 
The  affairs  of  General  Kearney's  command  were  now 
in  a  most  critical  state.  A  number  of  them  were  wound 
ed  ;  they  were  all  poorly  provided  for,  and  surrounded 
by  enemies  who  were  determined  to  cut  them  to  pieces, 
if  possible. 

At  the  rancho  of  San  Bernardino  Captain  Turner  col 
lected  some  cattle,  and  sent  an  express  to  Commodore 
Stockton  at  San  Diego  for  assistance.  Lieutenant  Godey, 
of  the  volunteers,  the  messenger,  started  in  the  night,  but 
was  captured  when  in  sight  of  the  American  flag  which 
was  waving  over  that  town.  Pico's  cavalry  still  hung 
round,  and  in  the  night  drove  away  the  cattle  which  Tur 
ner  had  collected  upon  which  to  subsist  his  men.  This 
occurred  a  short  distance  beyond  the  rancho.  The  situ 
ation  of  the  Americans  was  becoming  desperate.  The 


United  States  Cavalry.  75 

provisions  were  gone,  the  mules  "given  out,"  and  the 
horses  were  dead ;  and  from  the  celerity  of  Pico's  move 
ments,  Kearney  was  convinced  he  could  not  move  with 
his  mounted  men  and  baggage.  Kearney  determined  to 
remain  upon  the  hill  of  San  Bernardino.  The  fattest 
mule  was  killed  for  meat,  and  holes  were  bored  for  wa 
ter,  and  in  this  way  enough  was  obtained  to  last  two  days. 
On  the  night  of  the  8th  of  December,  Kit  Carson,  Lieu 
tenant  Beall,  of  the  navy,  and  an  Indian  servant,  volun 
teered  to  go  to  San  Diego  to  ask  for  assistance  from  Com 
modore  Stockton.  The  expedition  was  one  of  extreme 
peril,  as  the  enemy  had  possession  of  all  of  the  roads ; 
but,  after  a  night  of  great  hazard  and  a  day  of  conceal 
ment,  they  reached  San  Diego,  twenty-nine  miles  distant, 
in  safety. 

On  the  morning  of  the  10th  Pico  attacked  Kearney's 
camp,  driving  in  front  of  him  a  drove  of  horses  to  pro 
tect  his  men.  A  few  horses  were  killed,  and  the  Mexi 
cans  were  driven  back.  It  was  determined  to  push  on 
to  the  ocean  on  the  following  day  at  all  hazards,  but  dur 
ing  the  night  Lieutenant  Grey,  of  the  navy,  arrived  with, 
re-enforcements,  and  the  Americans  were  relieved.  It 
was  time,  as  our  people  were  nearly  in  extremis.  They 
had  no  provisions;  their  baggage  was  gone,  for  they  had 
burned  a  portion  of  it  in  anticipation  of  a  forward  move 
ment  ;  they  were  without  animals,  for  most  of  them  had 
been  turned  loose  for  want  of  forage ;  and  with  a  large 
number  wounded,  considering  the  strength  of  the  party. 
It  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  they  could  have  escaped, 
had  it  not  been  for  the  opportune  arrival  of  Lieutenant 
Grey.  Pico  retired  on  the  junction  of  Grey's  party  with 


76  History  of  the 

Kearney's,  and,  after  a  weary  march,  they  arrived  at  San 
Diego  on  the  12th  of  December. 

After  resting  for  a  time  at  San  Diego,  Stockton  and 
Kearney  prepared  an  expedition  against  the  capital ;  and 
Stockton,  who  had  been  acting  as  governor,  offered  to 
turn  over  the  whole  charge  of  affairs  to  General  Kear 
ney,  but  this  he  refused  at  that  time  to  accept.  From 
this  circumstance  as  to  who  was  in  reality  the  true  gov 
ernor  of  California  there  was  afterward  much  trouble, 
and  many  bitter  enmities  were  created.  I  do  not  pre 
tend  to  give  an  opinion  as  to  the  rights  or  wrongs  of  that 
matter. 

Every  thing  being  prepared,  Stockton  and  Kearney 
set  out  to  capture  the  Cuidad  cle  los  Angeles,  Kearney 
acting  as  commander  of  the  troops,  and  Stockton  accom 
panying  the  expedition  in  the  character  of  governor. 

On  their  approach  to  the  San  Gabriel  Kiver  the  enemy 
was  discovered  on  the  opposite  bank.  This  was  on  the 
8th  of  January,  1847.  Here  the  dragoons,  who  were 
serving  on  foot,  behaved  well,  and  the  enemy  was  routed. 
The  next  day  the  force,  which  consisted  of  dragoons,  sail 
ors,  marines,  and  volunteers,  again  met  the  enemy  on  the 
Plains  of  Mesa,  near  the  capital,  where  another  skirmish 
took  place.  In  this  the  enemy  was  again  worsted,  and 
on  the  10th  the  American  force  entered  the  city.  In  the 
mean  time,  Fremont,  who  was  in  the  northern  portion  of 
California,  had  organized  a  body  of  volunteers,  and,  after 
a  secret  march  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  surprised 
the  Mission  of  San  Luis  Obispo,  capturing  the  command 
ant  and  thirty -five  others.  The  commandant,  Don  Jesus 
Pico,  was  a  prisoner  on  parole  at  the  time  of  his  capture. 


United  States  Cavalry.  77 

He  was  tried  by  a  court-martial  and  sentenced  to  death, 
but  this  was  remitted  by  Fremont. 

After  this  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont  marched  to  the 
Cuidad  de  los  Angeles,  where  he  met  Stockton  and  Kear 
ney.  The  Mexicans  by  this  time  saw  the  futility  of  their 
efforts,  and,  at  the  convention  on  the  Plains  of  Couenga, 
the  leaders  of  the  revolt  capitulated,  and  quiet  was  re 
stored  to  California.  When  the  troubles  with  the  Mexi 
cans  ceased,  our  own  officers  commenced  quarreling,  and 
a  most  serious  misunderstanding  took  place  as  to  who 
was  the  actual  governor.  Charges  were  preferred  against 
Fremont  for  not  obeying  Kearney,  and  both  of  those 
officers  returned  to  the  States,  leaving  Colonel  Kichard 
B.  Mason,  1st  Dragoons,  acting  as  governor,  to  which 
place  he  had  been  appointed  by  the  President. 

Fremont  was  tried  and  found  guilty  of  the  charges 
preferred  against  him, and  was  sentenced  to  be  dismissed; 
but  the  President,  in  consideration  of  his  valuable  serv 
ices  to  the  country,  remitted  the  sentence.  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Fremont  was  stung  by  what  he  considered  the 
injustice  done  him,  and  resigned  on  the  15th  of  March, 
1848. 


78  History  of  the 


CHAPTEK  IV. 

Mexican  Success  at  Encarnacion. — Buena  Vista. — Third  Regiment  of 
Dragoons  formed  in  1847. — Officers. — Harney's  Cavalry  Fight  near 
Vera  Cruz.— Cerro  Gordo. — San  Juan  de  los  Llanos. — Mexican  Cav 
alry- — Cavalry  Operations  near  the  City  of  Mexico. — Harney's  Report. 
— Sumner's  Report. 

WHILE  these  events  were  transpiring  on  the  shores  of 
the  Pacific,  Brigadier  General  John  E.  Wool  was  organ 
izing  a  force  at  San  Antonio,  Texas,  for  the  purpose  of 
marching  upon  and  capturing  the  city  of  Chihuahua, 
which  is  the  most  considerable  city  in  Northwestern  Mex 
ico.  This  force  started  from  San  Antonio  on  the  26th 
of  September,  1846,  and  contained,  besides  the  regular 
artillery  under  Captain  Washington,  two  regiments  of  Il 
linois  volunteer  infantry,  one  battalion  of  regulars,  four 
companies  of  the  2cl  Dragoons,  under  Colonel  Harney, 
and  the  Arkansas  cavalry,  under  Colonel  Yell.  General 
Wool  proceeded  to  the  Eio  Grande,  and  crossed  that 
stream  near  the  old  Presidio,  below  Laredo;  thence,  tak 
ing  a  northwesterly  course,  he  passed  through  Nava  and 
San  Fernando  to  Santa  Kosa.  At  this  place  he  found  his 
progress  impeded  on  account  of  the  bad  state  of  the  roads, 
and  the  uninhabited  condition  of  the  country  between 
that  place  and  Chihuahua.  There  are  long  stretches  of 
country  almost  destitute  of  water,  and  the  grass  almost 
burned  out  by  the  intense  heats  of  the  summer  sun. 
This  tract  is  inhabited  by  roving  bands  of  Camanche 


United  States  Cavalry.  79 

and  Apache  Indians,  who  move  about  from  the  head  wa 
ters  of  the  Arkansas  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  their  wealth 
consisting  of  immense  herds  of  wild  horses. 

Upon  consultation,Wool  turned  to  the  left  and  march 
ed  to  Monclova,  whence  he  sent  word  to  General  Taylor 
at  Monterey,  stating  his  reasons  for  not  moving  forward. 
Taylor  agreed  with  his  views,  and,  sending  a  letter  to  the 
Secretary  of  War,  asked  to  have  the  force  under  General 
Wool  added  to  his  own,  and  the  expedition  to  Chihua 
hua  abandoned  for  the  present.  The  Secretary  of  War 
assented  to  this,  as  the  benefits  which  it  was  supposed 
would  be  derived  from  the  expedition  were  found  to  be 
not  at  all  commensurate  with  the  cost  to  the  government, 
and  Wool's  column  was  added  to  Taylor's. 

Major  General  Scott  visited  the  Kio  Grande  in  the 
month  of  January,18-i7,  and,  preparatory  to  his  march 
into  the  interior,  found  it  necessary  to  withdraw  from 
General  Taylor  some  of  his  best  troops,  leaving  enough, 
however,  to  protect  the  valley  of  the  Eio  Grande.  It 
was  hard  for  Taylor  to  part  witli  these  men,  but  the  exi 
gencies  of  the  service  demanded  it,  and  they  started  for 
Tampico  and  other  places  en  route  for  Yera  Cruz.  The 
greater  portion  of  the  dragoons  were  sent  with  Scott. 
After  their  departure,  Taylor,  although  suffering  from 
mortification  at  what  he  supposed  was  an  injustice  to 
him,  put  his  army  in  the  best  condition  he  was  able,  and 
advanced  to  Saltillo.  A  large  Mexican  force  was  be 
lieved  to  be  marching  upon  that  place,  but  as  yet  no  posi 
tive  evidence  of  it  had  been  obtained.  Before  the  ar 
rival  of  the  general  at  Saltillo,  a  small  party  of  the  Ar 
kansas  cavalry  had  been  sent  out  to  make  such  discov- 


80  History  of  the 

eries  as  were  possible,  under  command  of  Major  Borland. 
He  proceeded  some  distance,  and  was  about  to  return, 
when  he  was  joined  by  another  party  of  the  1st  Kentucky 
Cavalry,  under  Major  Gaines  and  Captain  Cassius  M. 
Clay.  The  parties  moved  forward  to  a  place  called  En- 
carnacion.  This  was  on  the  night  of  the  21st  of  January. 
General  Minon,  of  the  Mexican  army,  with  a  large  force, 
was  near  by,  and,  learning  the  exact  position  of  the  Amer 
icans,  quietly  surrounded  the  hacienda  where  they  were 
encamped,  and  the  naxt  morning  all  of  them  were  taken 
prisoners.  Two  majors,  two  captains,  one  lieutenant,  and 
sixty-six  cavalry  men  were  captured,  and  sent  as  prison 
ers  to  the  city  of  Mexico.  On  the  morning  of  the  26th 
of  January,  another  party  of  the  Kentucky  cavalry,  con 
sisting  of  seventeen  men,  under  Captain  Heady,  was  cap 
tured  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Cruz,  and  was  likewise  sent 
to  the  city  of  Mexico. 

The  only  man  who  made  his  escape  at  the  time  Bor 
land's  party  was  taken  was  Captain  Dan  Drake  Henrie, 
of  Texas,  acting  as  interpreter,  who  had  previously  been 
a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  the  Mexicans,  and  who  be 
lieved  he  would  be  murdered  as  soon  as  he  became 
known  to  them.  When  the  Americans  found  they  were 
surrounded,  Henrie  made  known  his  fears  to  Major 
Gaines,  and  asked  him  to  let  him  mount  his  mare,  which 
was  known  to  be  very  'fleet,  and  a  most  excellent  animal. 
As  the  Mexican  lancers  crowded  round,  Henrie  pretend 
ed  to  be  trying  to  hold  the  mare,  but  was,  in  reality,  press 
ing  her  against  them.  They  gave  way  a  little  for  her, 
which  he,  discovering,  sprang  upon  her  back  and  darted 
off.  Several  vollies  were  fired  after  him,  but  the  marc 


United  States  Cavalry.  81 

was  true  as  steel,  and  away  she  went  to  the  mountains. 
They  both  escaped,  but,  having  no  water,  this  beautiful 
animal  fell  dead,  and  Henrie  was  obliged  to  make  the 
best  of  his  way  alone.  He  dared  not  visit  any  of  the 
farm-houses  along  the  route,  and,  after  almost  unheard- 
of  .sufferings,  reached  our  army  three  days  after  his  es 
cape,  having  had  nothing  to  eat  except  a  mouse  or  two 
which  he  had  caught  while  far  off  the  main  road.  When 
found  by  our  people  he  was  almost  deranged,  and  it  was 
a  long  time  before  he  recovered  from  the  effects  of  his 
trials.  His  escape  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  ever 
known. 

General  Taylor  arrived  at  Saltillo,  and,  after  staying  a 
short  time,  moved  his  force  past  the  rancho  of  Buena 
Vista  and  the  pass  of  L' Angostura  to  Agua  Nueva,  where 
he  had  a  better  drill-ground  for  his  volunteers  than  he 
could  find  elsewhere.  In  going  forward,  he  had  made 
up  his  mind,  in  case  of  an  action  coming  on,  to  fall  back 
to  the  pass  of  L' Angostura,  which  was  narrow  and  easily 
defended,  and  there  give  battle  to  the  enem}^.  Up  to 
this  time  it  was  uncertain  what  the  Mexicans  intended 
to  do,  and  no  knowledge  of  the  force  in  front  was  in 
Taylor's  possession.  To  make  every  thing  secure,  and 
learn  as  much  as  possible  of  the  enemy,  he  sent  Brevet 
Lieutenant  Colonel  May,  with  one  squadron  of  the  1st, 
one  squadron  of  the  2d  Dragoons,  and  some  volunteer 
cavalry,  to  the  rancho  of  La  Hedionda  and  beyond,  to  try 
and  discover  the  enemy.  He  reached  that  place  on  the 
afternoon  of  the  20th  of  February,  and  thence  sent  out 
several  parties  to  scour  the  country  in  all  directions.  In 
the  distance  signal  fires  were  seen  rising  up  from  the  tops 

L>2 


82  History  of  the 

of  the  hills,  and  to  the  east  clouds  of  dust  indicated  the 
movement  of  a  large  body  of  troops.  Second  Lieuten 
ant  Samuel  D.  Sturgis,  of  the  dragoons,  was  sent  to  the 
top  of  a  hill  to  obtain  a  better  view,  accompanied  by  only 
one  dragoon,  when  both  were  captured  by  the  enemy 
and  carried  off.  . 

May  remained  out  all  night,  and  next  morning  return 
ed  to  General  Taylor,  and  announced  that  the  enemy  was 
advancing  in  force.  Upon  the  receipt  of  this  informa 
tion  his  soldiers  fell  back,  as  had  been  his  intention  be 
fore,  from  Agua  Nueva,  to  a  position  in  front  of  the 
rancho  of  Buena  Yista.  Leaving  his  army  for  a  short 
time,  Taylor,  with  a  squadron  of  the  2d  Dragoons  and  a, 
regiment  of  volunteers,  went  back  to  Saltillo  to  satisfy 
himself  that  all  was  right  there,  and  to  keep  the  garrison 
of  that  place,  which  was  very  small,  in  as  good  spirits  as 
possible.  This  was  on  the  night  of  the  21st  of  February. 
The  next  morning  he  returned  to  the  field,  but,  in  the 
mean  time,  the  battle  had  commenced  under  orders  of 
Generals  Wool  and  Lane.  The  attack  was  made  by  a 
heavy  column  of  Mexican  lancers  and  infantry,  who 
pushed  a  portion  of  our  volunteer  infantry  back,  and 
then  attacked  the  cavalry  regiments  of  Kentucky  and 
Arkansas  in  the  most  determined  manner;  but  they  with 
stood  the  shock,  and  night  put  an  end  to  the  first  day's 
conflict.  On  the  23d  another  and  the  final  battle  was 
fought,  and  Santa  Anna  was  forced  back,  with  his  Mexi 
can  hordes,  never  to  appear  again  on  the  northern  fron 
tier  in  any  very  considerable  numbers.  The  fight  on 
this  day  between  our  cavalry  and  the  Mexican  lancers 
was  most  deadly,  and  several  of  our  cavalry  officers  fell. 


United  States  Cavalry.  83 

Colonel  Yell  and  Captain  Porter,  of  the  1st  Arkansas 
Cavalry,  were  killed,  and  Lieutenant  Reeder  was  wound 
ed.  Adjutant  Vaughan  was  killed,  and  Captain  Shaw- 
han,  and  Lieutenants  Brown,  Merrifield,  and  Conn,  of  the 
1st  Kentucky  Cavalry,  were  wounded. 

In  the  1st  regiment  of  Dragoons  Captain  Steen  was 
wounded,  and  was  made  a  brevet  major  for  gallantry ; 
Captains  Chilton,Rucker,  and  Carleton  were  made  brevet 
majors ;  Lieutenant  Abram  Buford,  brevet  captain ;  and 
Second  Lieutenants  Whittlesey  and  Evans,  brevet  first 
lieutenants. 

In  the  2d  Dragoons  Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel  May 
was  made  a  brevet  colonel ;  First  Lieutenant  Reuben  P. 
Campbell,  brevet  captain ;  and  Second  Lieutenants  Givens 
and  Wood,  brevet  first  lieutenants. 

This  battle,  particularly  in  the  West,  has  been  always 
looked  upon  as  the  most  severe  one  ever  fought  on.  Amer 
ican  soil,  and  no  doubt  it  was  true  until  the  breaking  out 
of  the  Rebellion ;  still,  officers  differed  in  opinion,  and 
many  considered  Molino  del  Rey  a  much  more  'severely 
contested  action.  The  cavalry  made  one  most  gallant 
charge  against  the  enemy  on  the  23d  of  February,  and 
cut  their  way  through  them;  but  the  Mexican  lancers 
were  far  from  being  a  contemptible  enemy,  and  many  of 
them  were  admirable  horsemen.  Our  people  had  the 
advantage  of  larger  horses  and  heavier  men  as  a  general 
thing,  but  the  Mexicans  were  much  more  agile,  and  could 
handle  their  horses  as  well  perhaps  as  any  people  on 
earth.  With  the  lance  they  were  greatly  our  superiors, 
and  used  that  weapon  with  great  effect  both  at  Buena 
Vista  and  at  San  Pascual.  We  have  yet  to  make  good 


84  History  of  the 

lancers  in  the  United  States,  as  experiments,  even  on  a 
small  scale,  have  proved  failures  among  the  Americans. 

Torrejon  and  Minon  were  both  good  cavalry  officers 
in  the  Mexican  army,  and  could  handle  their  troops  easi 
ly.  Their  forces  greatly  exceeded  ours  in  numbers,  and 
their  irregular  troops  were  no  doubt  better,  as  the  Mexi 
cans,  accustomed  as  many  of  them  are  to  a  life  on  horse 
back,  and  all  of  them  feeling  a  pride  in  owning  horse 
flesh,  it  did  not  take  so  long  a  time  to  train  them  as  it 
did  ours,  who,  particularly  those  from  the  older  states, 
know  little  or  nothing  about  riding  or  managing  horses. 
The  Mexicans  are  most  relentless  riders,  and  their  poor 
horses  sometimes  suffer  dreadfully  at  their  hands. 

On  the  llth  of  February,  1847,  Congress  passed  what 
was  known  as  the  "  Ten  Eegiment  Bill,"  by  which  one 
regiment  (the  3d)  of  dragoons  was  ordered  to  be  raised 
"for  and  during  the  war  with  Mexico,"  and  giving  two 
majors  to  each  regiment  of  the  line.  Major  Eustace 
Trenor,  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  died  in  New  York  city  on 
the  16th  of  February,  1847.  Nathan  Boone,  senior  cap 
tain  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  and  a  son  of  Daniel  Boone,  of 
Kentucky,  was  promoted  in  place  of  Trenor.  Captain 
Benjamin  N.  Beall,  of  the  2d  Dragoons,  was  promoted 
major  of  the  1st;  and  Captain  Philip  St.  George  Cooke, 
of  the  1st,  major  of  the  2d  regiment.  Captain  William 
W.  Loring  was  promoted  major  in  the  Mounted  Eifle 
regiment. 

Edward  G.  W.  Butler,  of  Louisiana,  a  graduate  of  West 
Point,  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  3d  Dragoons ;  Thom 
as  P.  Moore,  of  Kentucky,  was  appointed  lieutenant  col 
onel  ;  Lieutenant  William  II.  Emory,  of  the  Topograph- 


United  States  Cavalry.  85 

ical  Engineers,  and  Lewis  Cass,  junior,  of  Michigan,  were 
appointed  majors  on  the  9th  of  April,  1847.  Emory  de 
clined,  whereupon  William  H.  Polk,  a  brother  of  the  then 
President,  was  appointed,  August  31st,  1847. 

Major  General  Scott  landed  with  his  army  of  invasion 
near  Yera  Cruz,  Mexico,  in  March,  1847,  and,  after  a  some 
what  protracted  investment  and  bombardment,  that  city, 
with  the  Castle  of  San  Juan  d'Ulloa,  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  Americans.  While  the  bombardment  was  going 
on  the  dragoons  arrived,  and  refitted  at  Yergara,  above 
the  city,  and  on  the  shores  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  The 
horses  were  many  of  them  lost  in  crossing  the  Gulf,  and 
for  many  days  a  portion  of  the  dragoons  were  dismount 
ed.  A  fight  took  place,  however,  between  them  and  a 
party  of  the  enemy  at  the  Medelin  Eiver,  on  the  25th  of 
March,  1847.  The  enemy  had  been  prowling  about  for 
several  days,  when  Colonel  Harney  determined  to  beat 
the  bush  for  them.  Accordingly  he  started,  with  Thorn 
ton's  squadron  of  dragoons  and  fifty  dismounted  men, 
under  Captain  Ker,  in  the  direction  of  the  river  above 
named,  and  continued  without  opposition  until  near  the 
stone  bridge  of  Morena,  which  he  found  fortified,  and  pro 
tected  by  a  force  of  lancers',  with  two  pieces  of  artillery. 
Seeing  this,  Harney  fell  back,  as  he  had  not  force  enough 
to  fight  the  enemy  successfully.  As  soon  as  this  was 
known  in  camp,  Captain  Hardee,  who  was  disembarking 
his  horses,  started  with  what  men  he  could  gather  to  go 
to  Harney's  assistance.  Both  Thornton  and  Hardee  had 
been  prisoners  among  the  Mexicans,  and  had  been  ex 
changed.  Harney,  having  increased  his  force  by  the  ad 
dition  of  some  volunteers  and  two  pieces  of  artillery, 


86  History  of  the 

started  on  his  return  to  the  attack.  He  formed  his  in 
fantry  on  the  right  and  left  near  the  bridge,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Judd,  with  the  cannon,  opened  fire  upon  the  bar 
ricades.  This  was  returned  for  some  time,  when  he  or 
dered  the  infantry  and  dismounted  dragoons  to  charge, 
and  those  who  were  on  horseback  to  follow.  The  barri 
cade  was  quickly  leaped,  but  the  Mexicans  fell  back  and 
formed  beyond  the  bridge.  Harney  ordered  it  cleared, 
and  sent  Surnner  with  the  dragoons  across  it  at  a  gallop. 
On  their  approach  the  footmen  fled  into  the  woods,  and 
the  lancers  were  met  and  completely  routed.  Lieuten 
ants  Lowry  and  Oakes  pursued  a  party  of  lancers  some 
distance,  and  killed  and  wounded  several  of  them.  Major 
Sumner  and  Lieutenant  Sibley,  with  another  party  of 
dragoons,  pursued  another  body  of  lancers,  killing  and 
wounding  several,  as  far  as  the  village  of  Madeline,  six 
miles  distant. 

Lieutenant  Neill,  in  advance,  came  up  with  two  lancers, 
who  turned  upon  him,  and  inflicted  two  severe  lance 
wounds  upon  him,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  fell  from 
his  horse.  ISTeill  behaved  most  gallantly,  and  Colonel 
Harney  complimented  his  whole  command  for  their  good 
conduct  in  this  affair.  Our  loss  was  trifling,  and  that  of 
the  Mexicans  did  not  amount  to  any  thing  very  serious ; 
but  it  was  a  fine  race  after  a  party  of  the  enemy  who  had 
ventured  too  near  our  people,  and  were  consequently 
worsted.  Captains  William  J.  Hardee  and  Henry  II. 
Sibley  were  made  brevet  majors  for  their  conduct,  and 
Second  Lieutenants  Lewis  Neill  and  James  Oakes  were 
made  brevet  first  lieutenants — all  of  the  2d  Dragoons. 
Second  Lieutenant  Orren  Chapman,  1st  Dragoons,  was 
also  breveted  first  lieutenant. 


United  States  Cavalry.  87 

After  this  the  regiments  were  put  in  the  best  shape 
possible,  and  the  army  started  on  its  way  to  the  interior. 
The  progress  was  slow,  as  our  people  were  obliged  to 
wait  for  supplies  of  every  kind  to  be  received  from  the 
States,  and  it  was  nearly  a  month  before  they  made  much 
progress.  In  April  it  was  known  that  Santa  Anna  had 
taken  command  of  the  Mexicans  in  front  of  General 
Scott's  army,  and  had  been  engaged  in  throwing  up  va 
rious  defenses  at  Cerro  Gordo,  on  the  road  to  the  city  of 
Mexico.  He  had  with  him  a  portion  of  the  Mexican 
forces  which  had  fought  at  Buena  Vista,  and  had  reor 
ganized  an  army,  which,  considering  the  opposition  he 
had  to  contend  with  among  his  own  people,  was  really 
remarkable,  and  proved  him  to  be,  what  many  have  been 
unwilling  to  admit  him  to  be,  a  most'  able  and  talented 
man,  and  a  soldier  by  no  means  to  be  despised.  Had 
he  commanded  American  troops,  and  had  the  resources 
which  the  United  States  could  command,  the  story  of  the 
Mexican  War  would  read  differently. 

In  the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo,  on  the  17th  and  18th  of 
April,  1847,  the  dragoons  did  not  play  a  conspicuous 
part,  as  they  were  not  called  upon  to  do  any  thing  until 
the  enemy  was  retreating,  when  a  squadron  under  Cap 
tain  Blake,  and  some  companies  under  Major  Beall,  pur 
sued  the  enemy  far  out  on  the  Jalapa  road,  and  took  some 
prisoners;  but  the  Mounted  Eifle  regiment  behaved  most 
admirably,  and  won  a  proud  name  for  itself  on  that  oc 
casion.  It  was  commanded  in  the  commencement  of  the 
action  by  Major  Sumner,  of  the  2d  Dragoons,  when, 
he  falling  from  a  severe  wound  in  the  head,  the  com 
mand  devolved  upon  Major  William  W.  Loring.  As 


88  History  of  the 

before  remarked,  the  regiment  served  on  foot  at  this 
battle. 

On  the  17th  of  April  the  first  squadron  of  the  regi 
ment,  after  moving  up,  was  halted  about  four  hundred 
yards  from  the  point  of  attack,  partly  under  cover  from 
the  enemy's  batteries.  While  waiting  thus,  it  was  fired 
upon  by  the  batteries  and  the  skirmishers  of  the  enemy. 
The  squadron  was  deployed,  and  a  charge  ordered;  at 
the  same  time,  the  rest  of  the  regiment  and  a  company 
of  infantry  attacked  the  enemy  on  the  summit  and  farther 
slope  of  the  hill,  and  they  were  driven  from  their  posi 
tion.  In  this  attack  Major  Sumner  was  wounded,  and 
was  carried  to  the  rear.  The  Eifles  were  then  deployed, 
and,  with  the  1st  Artillery,  drove  the  enemy  from  their 
position.  The  regiment  was  then  employed  in  sustain 
ing  a  battery  of  mountain  howitzers,  and  in  preventing 
the  enemy  turning  our  left.  It  remained  here  during 
the  night  of  the  17th,  and  assisted  in  placing  the  heavy 
guns  which  were  brought  up  in  position.  At  dawn  of 
day  it  was  ordered  to  prepare  for  battle.  "  At  an  early 
hour,"  says  Loring,  in  his  report,  "  and  before  the  attack 
upon  the  main  work,  a  large  succoring  force  was  seen 
advancing  on  the  Jalapa  road.  The  Eifles  were  ordered 
to  pass  to  the  left,  attract  the  attention  of  the  enemy,  and 
keep  them  in  check  until  the  storming  of  the  heights 
commenced,  in  which  the  regiment  was  to  join  on  the 
left  flank.  During  this  diversion  it  was  exposed  to  a 
galling  and  destructive  fire  of  round,  grape,  canister,  and 
musketry,  upon  its  front  and  both  flanks,  from  the  ene 
my's  three  main  intrenchments  and  batteries,  from  which 
it  suffered  great  loss.  In  this  movement  a  large  force  of 


United  States  Cavalry.  89 

the  enemy  was  held  in  check,  which,  from  its  position, 
would  have  been  able  to  have  turned  the  assaulting  col 
umn.  The  general  assault  having  been  ordered,  a  por 
tion  of  the  regiment  joining  in  it,  the  works  having  been 
carried  before  the  whole  line,  which  was  necessarily  ex 
tended  to  the  left,  could  possibly  reach  the  heights :  this 
being  effected,  the  regiment,  with  others,  was  placed  in 
position  on  the  heights.  In  a  very  short  time  the  enemy 
surrendered.  The  regiment  of  Mounted  Eiflemen  follow 
ed,  in  company  with  others,  the  retreating  army  to  within 
ten  miles  of  Jalapa," 

Lieutenants  Thomas  Ewell  and  Thomas  Davis  were 
killed  while  displaying  the  greatest  gallantry.  Captain 
Stevens  T.  Mason  had  his  leg  carried  off  by  a  round  shot, 
and  died  soon  after. 

Lieutenant  Dabney  II.  Maurey  was  severely  wounded, 
as  were  Lieutenants  Alfred  Gibbs  and  George  H.  Gordon. 

Major  Sumner  was  breveted  lieutenant  colonel,  and 
Second  Lieutenants  Frost,  Maurey,  Gibbs,  and  Gordon 
were  breveted  first  lieutenants  for  gallantry  and  merito 
rious  conduct  in  this  battle.  The  total  loss  to  the  regi 
ment  was  seventy-eight  killed  and  wounded.  Colonel 
Harney,  of  the  2d  Dragoons,  commanded  the  brigade  to 
which  it  was  attached,  and  he  was  breveted  brigadier 
general  for  his  good  conduct. 

The  immediate  results  of  this  battle  were  the  posses 
sion  of  the  city  of  Jalapa  by  the  Americans,  the  aban 
donment  of  the  works  and  artillery  at  La  Hoya,  and  the 
occupation  of  the  Castle  of  Perote,  which  was  nearly  as 
large  as  the  Castle  of  San  Juan  d'Ulloa,  and  which  con 
tained  a  vast  amount  of  ordnance  and  ordnance  stores. 


90  '  History  of  the 

Scott's  army  continued  to  march  to  Puebla.  In  the 
mean  time,  the  term  of  service  of  many  of  the  volunteer 
regiments  was  expiring,  and  it  became  necessary  to  wait 
for  re-enforcements  from  the  States,  which  were  expected 
in  the  shape  of  the  new  regiments  which  had  been  au 
thorized  by  Congress.  It  was  not  until  the  summer  had 
set  in  that  these  began  to  arrive  in  sufficient  numbers  to 
do  much  good.  •  While  one  of  these  columns  of  new 
troops  was  on  its  way  up  from  Vera  Cruz  to  Puebla,  it 
was  greatly  annoyed  by  the  guerrillas,  which  commenced 
swarming  along  the  way.  Captain  Charles  F.  Kuff,  with 
his  company  of  Mounted  Rifles,  they  having  by  good  for 
tune  secured  horses,  and  one  company  of  the  2d  Dragoons, 
were  sent  out  against  a  party  of  them  at  San  Juan  de  los 
Llanos,  on  the  1st  of  August,  1847.  Their  den  was  found 
not  far  from  the  main  road,  when  a  most  spirited  skir 
mish  took  place,  and  they  were  badly  used  up.  The 
Rifles  dismounted,  and  drove  them  out  of  a  hacienda  by 
sharp-shooting  through  the  windows.  For  gallantry  in 
this  affair  Ruff  was  made  brevet  major ;  First  Lieutenant 
John  G.  Walker,  of  the  Rifles,  brevet  captain ;  and  Second 
Lieutenant  James  M.  Hawes,  2d  Dragoons,  brevet  first 
lieutenant.  Their  loss  was  forty  or  fifty  killed  and 
wounded. 

A  company  of  the  3d  regiment  of  Dragoons  had  a  fight 
at  the  National  Bridge  while  they  were  on  their  way  up 
from  the  sea-coast,  and  behaved  well.  A  barricade  had 
been  erected  on  the  bridge  to  stop  their  progress,  but 
General  Pierce  ordered  our  men  to  carry  the  work  at 
once.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Bonham,  of  the  12th  Infantry, 
at  the  head  of  his  battalion,  rushed  forward  under  a  heavy 


United  States  Cavalry.  91 

fire  from  the  enemy's  escopets,  followed  by  Captain  Du- 
peru,  with  his  company  of  the  3d  Dragoons,  sword  in 
hand.  The  rnen  leaped  over  the  barricades,  and  the 
horsemen  followed,  when,  after  a  spirited  fight  of  ten 
minutes,  the  enemy  were  seen  flying  in  all  directions,  and 
did  not  again  make  their  appearance  while  that  column 
was  near  by. 

The  Mexican  guerrillas  were  bodies  of  men  formed,  it 
is  believed,  by  their  own  government,  or  sometimes  self- 
constituted,  who  thought  their  mission  was  to  annoy  and 
harass  our  troops  as  much  as  possible.  They  were  led 
by  men  of  the  most  unscrupulous  character,  and  all  laws 
of  war  were  set  aside  and  disregarded  by  them.  They 
were  most  relentless  foes,  and  their  operations  were  car 
ried  on  with  the  greatest  cruelty  toward  those  who  were 
unfortunate  enough  to  fall  into  their  power.  Our  men 
preferred  death  to  getting  into  their  hands,  and  in  our 
fights  with  them  no  quarter  was  expected  on  either  side. 

The  costume  of  these  guerrillas  was  picturesque,  and 
they  were  generally  mounted  on  horses  which,  though 
small,  possessed  much  spirit,  and  were  capable  of  endur 
ing  great  fatigue.  These  horses  were  descended,  no 
doubt,  from  those  which  were  brought  to  that  country 
by  the  Spaniards  during  and  soon  after  the  conquest  of 
Mexico,  and  many  of  them  bore  traces  of  Arabian  blood. 
Their  progenitors  had  some  of  them  escaped,  or  had  been 
reared  on  the  immense  plains  of  Northwestern  Mexico 
or  Texas,  where  to  this  day  large  herds  of  them,  perfect 
ly  wild,  may  frequently  be  seen.  Some  of  the  horse- 
raisers  of  Mexico  have  great  numbers  of  horses ;  and  it  is 
related  of  one  widow  lady,  who  had  a  hacienda  near  the 


92  History  of  the 

city  of  Durango,  that  she  fitted  out  a  Mexican  colonel's 
regiment  with  a  fall  supply  of  horses  which  were  per 
fectly  white,  all  of  which  was  a  free  gift.  This  story  is 
so  well  authenticated  as  to  leave  no  doubt  about  it.  Their 
horse  furniture  consisted  of  a  bridle  made  of  white  leath 
er  or  horsehair,  some  of  which  were  very  beautiful,  with 
an  immense  bit  and  curb,  which  was  capable  of  break 
ing  a  horse's  jaw  by  one  jerk  of  the  rider.  The  saddles 
were  also  very  tastefully  ornamented,  generally  with  sil 
ver,  with  a  high  pommel  and  cantle.  They  also  carried 
a  long  rope,  or  lasso,  called  by  them  a  riata,  and  by  our 
people  a  lariat. 

The  men  wore  large  broad-brimmed  hats,  which  arc 
most  unpleasant  things  to  wear  in  a  wind,  but  which,  are 
excellent  to  shield  against  the  sun's  rays.  Their  jackets 
were  made  of  leather,  velvet,  or  cloth,  and  generally  em 
broidered  most  elaborately  by  some  fair  senorita.  Their 
trowsers  were  wide — open  at  the  sides,  which  were  but 
toned  up  by  long  rows  of  silver  or  even  gold  buttons, 
and  sometimes  little  bells.  They  had  also  tiny  bells  on 
their  hats  and  on  their  immense  spurs.  Their  weapons 
were  a  sword,  carried  under  the  left  leg,  whereby  it  was 
prevented  from  dangling  about ;  a  pistol  or  two ;  an  cs- 
copet,  or  short  musket,  not  generally  very  available ;  and 
their  lasso,  which  they  could  throw  with  amazing  dex 
terity  and  effect. 

They  prowled  about  the  American  army,  annoyed  our 
trains,  murdered  our  soldiers  when  straggling,  and  cut  to 
pieces  such  small  parties  as  they  were  able  to  overpower. 

General  Scott  marched  on  with  his  army,  and  entered 
the  broad  and  beautiful  valley  of  Mexico  in  August. 


United  States  Cavalry.  93 

This  beautiful  spot  was  soon  to  be  the  scene  of  great 
deeds,  and  the  American  soldiers  were  to  win  a  lasting 
fame.  To  give  a  clear  and  concise  view  of  the  part  taken 
by  the  dragoons  at  the  battles  of  Contreras  and  Churu- 
busco  on  the  20th  of  August,  1847, 1  copy  Colonel  Har- 
ney's  report,  he  being  commander  of  the  cavalry  brigade. 

In  proper  order,  however,  ought  to  be  mentioned  the 
cavalry  skirmish  at  San  Augustine  on  the  17th  of  Au 
gust,  on  account  of  which  Captain  Blake,  of  the  2d  Dra 
goons,  was  made  a  brevet  major ;  Hardee,  a  brevet  lieu 
tenant  colonel ;  and  Second  Lieutenant  Richard  H.  An 
derson  was  made  a  brevet  first  lieutenant.  It  was  a  skir 
mish  of  some  importance,  and  the  Mexicans  were  defeat 
ed,  as  usual. 

Colonel  Harney  says,  in  writing  at  Tacubaya,  Mexico, 
August  24th,  1847 : 

"  The  cavalry  force  being  necessarily  weakened  by  de 
tachments  to  the  different  divisions  of  the  army,  I  found 
myself,  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  instant,  in  the  imme 
diate  command  of  nine  companies  only,  consisting  of  six 
companies  of  the  2d  Dragoons,  one  company  of  Mounted 
Riflemen,  and  two  companies  of  Mounted  Yolunteers. 
With  this  force  I  was  ordered  by  the  general-in-chief  to 
report  to  Brigadier  General  Twiggs,  who  was  at  this  time 
covering  Major  General  Pillow's  division  in  an  effort  to 
make  a  road  through  the  ridge  of  lava  which  forms  the 
pass  of  San  Antonio.  Owing  to  the  nature  of  the  ground, 
I  was  compelled  to  halt  within  range  of  the  enemy's 
shells,  and  to  remain  in  this  position  for  several  hours,  an 
idle  spectator  of  the  action  which  ensued.  After  night 
I  returned  with  my  command  to  San  Augustine,  and  re- 


94  History  of  the 

mained  there  until  the  enemy's  position  at  Contreras  was 
carried  on  the  morning  of  the  20th. 

"As  soon  as  the  road  was  ascertained  to  be  opened  and 
practicable  for  cavalry,  I  was  directed  by  the  general-in- 
chief  to  proceed,  with  two  squadrons  and  Captain  McKin- 
stry's  company  of  volunteers,  to  the  field  of  battle,  and  to 
take  charge  of  the  prisoners  which  had  been  captured. 
While  in  the  execution  of  this  order,  I  received  instruc 
tions  from  the  general-in-chief  to  leave  one  squadron  in 
charge  of  the  prisoners,  and  to  report  to  him  in  person 
with  the  other  three  companies.  Captain  Blake,  with  his 
squadron,  was  directed  to  perform  this  duty ;  while  Ma 
jor  Sumner  and  myself,  with  Captain  Ker's  squadron  and 
Captain  McKinstry's  company  of  volunteers,  joined  the 
commanding  general  near  the  field  of  Churubusco  just 
after  the  engagement  at  that  place  had  commenced. 

"  The  reports  of  Major  Sumner,  commanding  1st  bat 
talion,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Moore,  commanding  2d 
battalion,  which  I  have  the  honor  to  forward  herewith, 
will  show  in  what  manner  the  other  troops  and  squad 
rons  of  my  command  were  employed.  The  three  troops 
of  horse  brought  by  me  on  the  field  being  ordered  away 
in  different  directions,  Major  Sumner  and  myself  soon 
found  ourselves  without  commands. 

"I  then  employed  myself  with  my  staff  in  rallying 
fugitives  and  encouraging  our  troops  on  the  left  of  the 
main  road.  Major  Sumner,  toward  the  close  of  the  en 
gagement,  was  placed  by  the  general-in-chief  in  charge 
of  the  last  reserve,  consisting  of  the  rifle  regiment  and 
one  company  of  horse,  and  was  ordered  to  support  the 
left.  This  force  was  moving  rapidly  to  take  its  position 


United  States  Cavalry.  95 

in  line  of  battle,  when  the  enemy  broke  and  fled  to  the 
city.  At  this  moment,  perceiving  that  the  enemy  were 
retreating  in  disorder  on  one  of  the  main  causeways  lead 
ing  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  I  collected  all  the  cavalry  with 
in  my  reach,  consisting  of  parts  of  Captain  Ker's  com 
pany  of  2d  Dragoons,  Captain  Kearney's  company  of  1st 
Dragoons,  and  Captains  McReynolds  and  Duperu's  com 
panies  of  the  3d  Dragoons,  and  pursued  them  vigorously 
until  we  were  halted  by  the  discharge  of  the  batteries  at 
their  gate.  Many  of  the  enemy  were  overtaken  in  the 
pursuit,  and  cut  down  by  our  sabres.  I  can  not  speak  in 
terms  too  complimentary  of  the  manner  in  which  this 
charge  was  executed.  My  only  difficulty  was  in  restrain 
ing  the  impetuosity  of  my  men  and  officers,  who  seemed 
to  vie  with  each  other  who  should  be  foremost  in  the 
pursuit.  Captain  Philip  Kearney  gallantly  led  his  squad 
ron  into  the  very  intrenchments  of  the  enemy,  and  had 
the  misfortune  to  lose  an  arm  from  a  grape-shot  fired  from 
a  gun  at  one  of  the  main  gates  of  the  capital.  Captain 
McEeynolds  and  Lieutenant  Graham  were  also  wounded, 
and  Lieutenant  Ewell  had  two  horses  shot  under  him. 

"  Great  praise  is  due  to  Major  Sumner,  commanding  1st 
battalion,  for  iiis  zeal,  energy,  and  promptitude,  and  for 
the  gallant  manner  in  which  he  led  up  the  last  reserve 
of  the  general-in-chief. 

"  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  the  2d  battalion,  un 
der  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Moore,  was  so 
cut  up  by  detachments  as  to  materially  weaken  its  effi 
ciency,  and  to  impair  the  usefulness  of  that  officer,  who 
was  always  at  the  post  of  danger,  and  anxious  to  partici 
pate  in  the  conflict.  My  warmest  thanks  are  due  to  my 


•06  History  of  the 

brigade  staff,  consisting  of  Captain  Wood,  A.  Q.  M.,  Lieu 
tenant  Steele,  A.  A.  Gen.,  and  Lieutenant  Julian  May, 
my  aid-de-camp,  who  were  actively  employed  on  the 
morning  of  the  20th  in  rallying  our  men,  and  who  exhib 
ited  the  utmost  coolness  and  bravery  under  a  heavy  fire 
of  the  enemy.  The  two  last-named  officers  were  fore 
most  in  the  pursuit,  and  Lieutenant  Steele  cut  down 
three  of  the  enemy  with  his  sabre.  In  conclusion,  I  beg 
leave  to  state  that  the  dragoons,  from  the  commencement 
of  the  march  from  Puebla,  have  been  engaged  on  the 
most  active  and  laborious  service.  These  duties  have 
been  the  more  arduous  in  consequence  of  the  small  force 
of  cavalry  compared  with  the  other  arms  of  service. 
Small  parties  being  constantly  engaged  in  reconnoitring 
and  on  picket  guards,  the  utmost  vigilance  and  precau 
tion  have  been  required  to  prevent  surprise  and  disaster. 
The  gallant  Captain  Thornton,  while  reconnoitring  the 
enemy  near  San  Antonio  on  the  18th  instant,  was  shot 
through  the  body  by  a  cannon  shot,  and  instantly  killed. 
His  death  is  much  to  be  regretted.  On  the  20th,  although 
I  had  but  four  companies  of  my  brigade  with  me  on  the 
field,  the  remainder  were  actively  employed  in  the  per 
formance  of  important  and  indispensable  duties.  Cap 
tain  Hardee,  while  watching  the  enemy  with  his  company 
near  San  Augustine,  was  attacked  by  a  band  of  guerril 
las,  but  the  enemy  was  promptly  and  handsomely  re 
pulsed,  and  a  number  of  their  horses,  with  arms  and  ac 
coutrements,  captured." 

The  Mounted  Eifle  regiment,  under  Major  Loring,  bore 
a  conspicuous  and  honorable  part  in  the  battles  of  Con- 
treras  and  Churubusco,  and  Lieutenant  Michael  E.  Van 


United  States  Cavalry.  97 

• 

Buren  was  reported  severely  wounded  in  the  former  ac 
tion.  It  served  on  foot,  not  having  yet  procured  horses, 
with  the  exception  of  two  companies,  one  of  which  at 
that  time  was  not  in  the  valley. 

The  following  brevets  were  conferred  on  account  of 
these  battles  in  the  mounted  regiments,  but  it  must  be 
borne  in  mind  that  some  of  them  were  not  given  until 
a  year  or  two  afterward.  In  the  1st  Dragoons,  Captain 
Philip  Kearney,  who  lost  his  left  arm,  was  made  a  brevet 
major ;  First  Lieutenants  Eichard  S.  Ewell  and  Lorirner 
Graham  were  made  brevet  captains. 

In  the  2d  Dragoons,  First  Lieutenants  "William  Steele 
and  Philip  W.  McDonald  were  made  brevet  captains ; 
and  Second  Lieutenant  Arthur  D.  Tree  was  made  a  bre 
vet  first  lieutenant, 

In  the  3d  Dragoons,  Captain  Andrew  T.  McEeynolds 
was  made  a  brevet  major;  and  First  Lieutenant  Her 
man  Thorn  a  brevet  captain. 

In  the  Mounted  Eifle  regiment,  Captains  Winslow  F. 
Sanderson,  George  B.  Crittenden,  Jacob  B.  Backenstoss, 
and  Andrew  Porter,  were  made  majors  by  brevet. 

First  Lieutenant  Michael  E.  Yan  Buren  was  made  a 
brevet  captain ;  and  Second  Lieutenants  McLane,  May, 
Hatch,  Granger,  Palmer,  Stuart,  were  made  brevet  first 
lieutenants  from  Churubusco. 

Second  Lieutenant  Eobert  M.  Morris  was  made  a  bre 
vet  first  lieutenant  from  Contreras. 

Captain  Seth  B.  Thornton,  2d  Dragoons,  was  killed  by 
the  first  cannon  shot  which  was  fired  at  San  Antonio, 
near  the  city  of  Mexico,  by  the  Mexicans.  It  literally 
tore  him  to  pieces.  There  was  something  very  sad  in  the 

E 


98  History  of  the 

• 

fate  of  this  daring  and  high-toned  officer.  He  was  first 
to  meet  with  a  reverse  before  the  battle  of  Palo  Alto,  in 
which  he  was  severely  wounded,  and  was  the  first  offi 
cer  who  fell  in  the  valley  of  Mexico.  His  defeat  by  the 
Mexicans  preyed  upon  his  spirits,  and,  though  suffering 
from  ill  health,  he  continued  to  do  his  duty  until  stricken 
by  the  fatal  shot.  His  loss  was  deplored  by  the  whole 
army. 

After  the  battles  of  Contreras  and  Churubusco,  an  ar 
mistice  was  agreed  upon  by  the  authorities,  and  our  army 
drew  its  supplies  for  a  time  from  the  city  of  Mexico  it 
self,  pack-mules  going  in  at  night  and  returning  laden 
with  rations,  etc.  This  was,  of  course,  done  by  consent 
of  the  Mexican  general,  and  was  an  understanding  at  the 
time  the  armistice  was  entered  upon.  This  armistice  con 
tinued  until  the  7th  of  September,  when  General  Scott, 
believing  ithe  Mexicans  were  acting  in  bad  faith,  ordered 
it  to  be  brought  to  an  end. 

Hostilities  of  an  active  character  commenced  soon  aft 
erward,  and  on  the  8th  of  September,  1847,  was  fought 
the  battle  of  Molino  del  Eey.  As  to  the  part  enacted  by 
the  mounted  men  in  that  battle,!  subjoin  Major  Sum- 
ner's  report. 

"My  command,"  says  he, <; consisted  of  six  troops  of 
the  2d  Dragoons,  one  troop  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  a  part 
of  a  troop  of  the  3d  Dragoons  (under  the  command  of 
Lieutenant  C.  D,  Williams,  3d  Dragoons),  and  Captain 
Buff's  company  of  Mounted  Kifiemen — in  all,  about  270 
men.  My  orders  were  to  take  a  position  on  the  left  of 
our  line,  to  hold  in  check  the  enemy's  cavalry,  and  to 
give  a  blow  to  their  horse  or  foot  if  an  opportunity  should 


United  States  Cavalry.  99 

offer.  In  taking  up  my  position  I  was  compelled  to 
pass  within  pistol-shot  of  a  large  body  of  the  enemy,  who 
were  protected  by  a  ditch  and  breastworks.  This  expo 
sure  of  my  command  was  entirely  unavoidable  in  conse 
quence  of  a  deep  ditch  on  my  left,  which  was  impossi 
ble  to  cross  until  I  got  very  close  to  their  line ;  and  I 
could  not  pause  at  that  moment,  as  a  very  large  body  of 
the  enemy's  cavalry  was  advancing  toward  the  left  of  our 
line.  After  passing  through  this  fire  and  crossing  a  ra 
vine,  I  formed  my  command  in  line  facing  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  on  which  they  halted,  and  shortly  afterward  re 
tired.  I  continued  to  hold  my  command  on  the  left  flank 
of  our  line  until  the  enemy's  infantry  broke  and  retired, 
changing  my  position  from  time  to  time  in  order  to  face 
their  cavalry  whenever  they  advanced.  I  should  have 
joined  in  the  pursuit  of  their  infantry  when  they  broke; 
but  in  doing  this  I  should  have  uncovered  our  left,  and 
their  large  cavalry  force  was  still  maintaining  a  mena 
cing  attitude,  covered  and  protected  as  it  was  by  a  large 
hacienda  filled  with  troops. 

"  My  loss  in  passing  their  line  of  fire  was  severe,  viz., 
five  officers  and  thirty-three  soldiers  wounded,  and  six 
soldiers  killed ;  twenty-seven  horses  killed,  and  seventy- 
seven  wounded.  Captain  Ker,  of  the  2d  Dragoons,  First 
Lieutenant  Walker,  of  the  Eifles,  and  Second  Lieutenants 
Smith  and  Tree,  of  the  2d  Dragoons,  and  Second  Lieu 
tenant  C.  D.  "Williams,  of  the  3d  Dragoons,  were  wound 
ed,  but,  I  am  happy  to  state,  not  dangerously. 

"My  officers  and  men  maintained  their  character  for 
steadiness  and  confidence  throughout  the  action.  They 
all  did  well ;  but  I  must  notice,  in  particular,  the  success- 


100  History  of  the 

fill  efforts  of  Captain^  Hardee  in  maintaining  order  in  his 
squadron  during  the  many  evolutions  that  it  was  neces 
sary  to  make  with  great  rapidity.  I  have  also  to  state 
that  Assistant  Surgeon  Barnes  was  very  assiduous  in  his 
duties,  and  took  such  measures  that  our  wounded  men 
received  prompt  attention.  I  have  also  the  pleasure  to 
report  that  I  received  effective  aid  from  my  adjutant, 
Lieutenant  Oakes. 

"  Lieutenant  Colonel  Moore,  of  the  3d  Dragoons,  joined 
me  after  the  action  commenced,  and  did  me  the  great  fa 
vor  to  abstain  from  assuming  the  command.  His  pres 
ence,  however,  was  of  great  service  to  me,  and  his  exam 
ple  of  the  most  perfect  coolness  under  fire  had  a  favora 
ble  influence  upon  my  command. 

"  Colonel  Harney,  who  was  quite  unwell,  also  came 
upon  the  field  during  the  action,  and,  after  observing  my 
measures  for  some  time,  expressed  himself  satisfied  with 
them,  and  said  to  me  that  he  would  not  assume  the  com 
mand,  for  which  I  am  deeply  obliged  to  him." 

Lieutenant  Herman  Thorn,  of  the  3d  Dragoons,  was 
also  wounded.  The  Mounted  Eifle  regiment  did  not  par 
ticipate  in  this  battle,  which  was  fought  almost  entirely 
by  "Worth's  division.  Sumner  was  made  a  brevet  col 
onel,  and  Oakes  a  brevet  captain,  for  good  conduct.  No 
other  mounted  officers  were  breveted. 

The  storming  of  Chapultepec,  which  was  a  strong  cas 
tle  near  the  city  of  Mexico,  and  used  as  a  military  school, 
occurred  on  the  13th  of  September,  1847.  In  this  action, 
as  well  as  along  the  causeways  leading  toward  the  city, 
and  entering  it  by  the  Belen  Gate,  the  Mounted  Kifle 
regiment  displayed  the  greatest  gallantry.  The  city 


United  States  Cavalry.  101 

was  entered  and  captured  on  the  14th  of  the  same 
month. 

The  dragoons  had  no  opportunity  of  doing  much  serv 
ice  on  entering  the  city.  The  loss  to  the  Rifles  was,  in 
killed  and  wounded,  seventy-nine.  Colonel  Persifer  F. 
Smith,  of  this  regiment,  had  received  the  brevet  of  briga 
dier  general  for  his  conduct  at  Monterey,  and  was  after 
ward  breveted  major  general  for  Contreras  and  Churu- 
busco. 

Major  Loring,  who  commanded  the  Rifles,  was  breveted 
colonel  for  good  conduct,  and  lost  an  arm  at  the  assault 
on  De  Belen  Gate.  Captain  Simonson  was  wounded,  and 
made  brevet  major  at  Chapultepec ;  Captain  Backenstoss 
was  wounded,  and  made  brevet  lieutenant  colonel ;  Cap 
tain  Tucker  was  wounded,  and  made  brevet  major;  Cap 
tain  Roberts,  brevet  major;  Cap'tain  Andrew  Porter,  bre 
vet  lieutenant  colonel ;  Lieutenant  McLane,  brevet  cap 
tain  ;  Lieutenant  Morris,  brevet  captain ;  Second  Lieu 
tenant  Russell,  wounded,  brevet  first  lieutenant;  Lieu 
tenant  Hatch,  brevet  captain ;  Lieutenant  Granger,  brevet 
captain ;  Lieutenant  Palmer,  wounded,  brevet  captain  ; 
Lieutenant  Stuart,  brevet  captain.  Lieutenant  Gibbs, 
brevet  captain  from  De  Belen  Gate. 

Lieutenant  McDonald,  of  the  2d  Dragoons,  serving  as 
aid-de-camp  to  Major  General  Twiggs,  was  made  brevet 
major  from  Chapultepec. 

On  the  morning  of  the  14th  the  citadel  was  taken  pos 
session  of  by  General  Quitman's  division.  Here,  under 
standing  that  great  depredations  were  going  on  in  the 
National  Palace  and  public  buildings,  he  moved  his  col 
umn  in  that  direction  through  the  principal  streets  to 


102  History  of  the 

the  great  square,  where  he  formed  it  in  front  of  the  pal 
ace.  Captain  Roberts,  of  the  Mounted  Rifle  regiment, 
who  had  led  the  advance  company  of  the  storming  party 
at  Chapultepec,  and  had  greatly  distinguished  himself 
during  the  preceding  day,  was  detailed  by  the  general  to 
plant  the  star-spangled  banner  of  our  countrymen  upon 
the  National  Palace.  This  flag,  the  first  strange  banner 
which  had  ever  waved  over  that  palace  since  the  con 
quest  of  Cortez,  was  displayed,  and  saluted  with  enthu 
siasm  by  the  whole  command. 

General  Quitman,  in  his  report,  pays  the  following  high 
compliment  to  the  Rifles : 

"  This  report,"  says  he,  "has  already  shown  the  prom 
inent  part  taken  by  the  regiment  of  Mounted  Riflemen, 
under  the  command  of  the  brave  and  intrepid  Major 
Loring,  who  fell  severely  wounded  by  my  side  while  re 
ceiving  orders  for  the  final  charge  upon  the  Gate  of  Belen. 
After  the  taking  of  the  batteries  of  Chapultepec,  in  which 
portions  of  this  corps  took  an  active  part,  this  efficient 
and  splendid  regiment  were  employed  as  sharp-shooters 
in  the  advance,  through  the  arches  of  the  aqueduct,  where 
their  services  were  invaluable.  My  only  concern  was  to 
restrain  their  daring  impetuosity." 

Major  General  Scott  and  his  staff,  in  full  uniform,  en 
tered  the  capital  at  eight  o'clock,  escorted  by  Major  Sum- 
ner  with  his  battalion  of  cavalry.  It  was  a  most  impos 
ing  spectacle,  and  one  which  has  been,  and  will  for  years 
to  come  be  celebrated  in  song  and  story.  The  pages  of 
romance  furnish  no  parallel  to  the  conquest  of  the  beau 
tiful  and  lovely  land  of  Mexico.  It  is  emphatically  the 
chosen  place  of  God,  and  is  without  equal  on  earth.  Its 


United  States  Cavalry.  103 

fair  plains  covered  with  matchless  verdure ;  its  uplands 
teeming  with  abundant  harvests;  and  its  glorious  old 
mountains  piled  up  among  the  fleecy  clouds.  How  much 
— how  very  much  the  Almighty  has  done  for  that  fair 
land,  and  how  little  has  man  seconded  His  efforts ! 

When  all  of  the  troops  had  made  their  way  into  the 
city  they  were  sent  to  their  several  stations,  and  the  cav 
alry  brigade,  under  Colonel  Harney,  was  ordered  to  occu 
py  the  cavalry  barracks  near  the  National  Palace.  The 
city  of  Mexico  was  in  possession  of  the  Americans.  It 
is  the  most  ancient  as  well  as  the  most  splendid  capital 
on  the  American  continent,  and  contained  at  that  time 
about  two  hundred  thousand  inhabitants,  and  teemed 
with  the  white  domes  of  churches  and  shady  paseos.  A 
beautiful  alameda,  or  public  garden,  was  within  its  limits ; 
a  magnificent  cathedral;  and  the  "Halls  of  the  Monte- 
zumas,"  or  National  Palace,  which,  though  not  lofty  or 
imposing  in  appearance,  was  well  arranged,  and  had  cost 
an  immense  sum  of  money. 


104  History  of  the 


CHAPTER  Y. 

Doniphan's  March  to  Chihuahua. — Affair  at  Sacramento. — Taos. — Fight 
at  Huamantla. — Captain  Walker  killed. — Cavalry  action  at  Atlixco. — 
The  Pass  of  Galaxara. — General  Lane's  Night  March  after  General 
Santa  Anna. — Orizaba. — Padre  Jarauta. — Agua  Fria. — Fight  at  Santa 
Cruz  de  los  Resales. — Royall's  Fight  with  Indians. — Third  Regiment 
of  Dragoons  disbanded,  1848. 

WHILE  the  events  recorded  had  been  transpiring  in 
the  valley  of  Mexico  and  along  the  Rio  Grande,  Colonel 
Donipban,  with  his  regiment  of  Missouri  cavalry,  had 
been  invading  Mexico,  and  had  made  a  famous  march. 

When  General  Kearney  left  Santa  Fe,  Donipban  was 
left  at  that  place  with  orders  to  make  a  campaign  against 
the  ISTavajo  Indians,  and  afterward  to  join  General  Wool's 
column  at  Chihuahua ;  it  being,  of  course,  then  unknown 
to  both  these  officers  that  the  proposed  expedition  to  that 
place  under  General  Wool  from  San  Antonio,  Texas,  had 
been  broken  up,  and  his  forces  transferred  to  General 
Taylor. 

On  the  26th  of  October,  1846,  he  started  from  Santa 
Fe  for  the  invasion  of  the  country  occupied  by  the  Nav- 
ajo  Indians.  Tbis  is  a  semi-civilized  tribe  inhabiting 
the  country  west  of  a  range  of  mountains  bounding  the 
Rio  Grande,  and  extending  down  the  tributaries  of  the 
Rio  Colorado  to  near  the  Pacific  Ocean.  The  country 
was  invaded  by  three  routes.  Every  portion  of  their 
country  was  visited ;  and,  after  near  three  fourths  of  them 


United  States  Cavalry.  105 

were  collected  together,  a  treaty  was  made  with  them. 
It  was  late  in  the  season ;  the  cold  weather  came  on,  and 
Doniphan's  men  were  obliged  to  march  over  a  ground 
covered  with  snow,  and  suffering  much  from  intense  cold. 
Finally,  however,  he  reached  Valverde,  a  town  on  the  Eio 
Grande,  in  New  Mexico,  where  he  refitted,  and  prepared 
to  set  out  on  his  march  to  Chihuahua. 

On  the  18th  of  December,  1846,  he  left  Valverde  with 
his  command,  which  did  not  exceed  eight  hundred  and 
fifty-six  men,  including  two  small  parties  which  had  pre 
ceded  him.  At  Donna  Ana  his  whole  force,  including 
Clarke's  battery  of  artillery,  was  consolidated.  On  the 
25th,  when  near  Brazito,  as  he  was  about  to  encamp  for 
the  night,  and  the  men  were  bringing  in  wood  and  water, 
the  enemy  was  reported  advancing.  Soon  a  messenger, 
bearing  a  black  flag,  from  the  Mexicans,  came  into  his 
camp,  and  demanded  his  surrender.  This  was  declined, 
when  a  smart  skirmish  took  place,  and  the  enemy  was 
beaten  back  and  retired.  The  loss  to  both  sides  was 
trifling.  On  the  evening  of  the  27th  of  December  he  en 
tered  the  town  of  El  Paso,  where  he  remained  until  the 
following  February,  waiting  the  arrival  of  his  artillery, 
with  his  baggage  and  provision  train.  It  is  hardly  fair 
to  call  this  a  battle,  but  Doniphan  and  his  men  consider 
ed  it  so,  though  his  own  loss  was  "none  killed,  seven 
wounded,  all  since  recovered."  Still,  it  was  a  gallant  af 
fair,  and  the  Missourians  were  entitled  to  much  credit. 

On  the  evening  of  the  8th  of  February  he  left  El  Paso 
with  a  large  train  for  Chihuahua,  his  own  force  number 
ing  but  little  more  than  one  thousand  men.  His  march 
was  undisturbed  for  several  days ;  but  on  the  28th,  when 

E2 


106  History  of  the 

near  the  pass  of  Sacramento,  he  learned  that  the  enemy 
in  considerable  force  was  waiting  for  him.  This  pass  is 
formed  by  the  spur  of  the  mountains  which  juts  down 
into  the  plain  on  the  right,  and  the  dry  bed  of  a  creek, 
deep  and  full  of  ravines,  on  the  left. 

The  enemy  had  considerable  artillery  well  posted,  and 
redoubts  had  been  thrown  up  under  direction  of  General 
Garcia  Conde,  ex-minister  of  war  of  Mexico,  who  was  a 
scientific  man,  and  who  had  some  military  knowledge. 
The  artillery  was  mostly  behind  these  redoubts.  The 
action  was  commenced  by  the  firing  of  cannon  into  the 
Mexicans,  who  were  drawn  up  in  front  of  their  works. 
This  fire  was  returned,  and  the  Mexicans  retired  behind 
their  redoubts.  A  charge  was  now  ordered  by  Colonel 
Doniphan,  in  which  the  mounted  companies  of  Captains 
Eeid,  Parsons,  and  Hudson  participated,  accompanied  by 
two  twelve-pounder  howitzers  under  Captain  Weight- 
man.  The  remainder,  who  had  dismounted,  followed  on 
foot,  and  the  enemy  was  soon  put  to  flight.  There  is*  no 
doubt  but  this  was  a  daring  and  gallant  charge,  and  en 
titled  the  men  to  great  credit ;  but  the  Mexicans  gave 
way  at  once,  not  being  able  to  stand  the  sabres  of  our 
men  and  the  scattering  fire  of  the  howitzers. 

Captain  Philip  E.  Thompson,  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  ac 
companied  Doniphan,  and  acted  as  his  aid  during  the 
fight.  For  his  good  conduct  he  was  made  a  major  by 
brevet.  Lieutenant  Crockett  Harrison,  of  Doniphan's 
regiment,  was  wounded. 

The  loss  to  the  Americans  was  small  considering  the 
number  engaged,  while  that  of  the  Mexicans  was  very 
considerable. 


United  States  Cavalry.  107 

The  Mexican  force  consisted  of  some  irregular  cavalry 
from  the  Mexican  states  of  Durango  and  Chihuahua, 
some  Yera  Cruz  dragoons,  a  corps  of  artillery,  and  a  body 
of  rancheros,  or  Mexican  farmers  and  laborers,  "  badly 
armed  with  lassos,  lances,  and  machetos,  or  corn-knives," 
all  under  the  command  of  Major  General  Heredia,  assist 
ed  by  Brigadier  Generals  Justiniani  and  Garcia  Conde. 

All  of  their  artillery,  consisting  of  two  nine,  two  eight, 
four  six,  and  two  four  pounders,  and  six  culverins,  or 
rampart  pieces,  was  captured,  but  it  does  not  appear  that 
any  of  this  was  very  serviceable. 

The  victory  being  complete,  the  Americans  entered  the 
city  of  Chihuahua  on  the  1st  of  March,  1847.  Here  Don- 
iphan  remained  for  some  time  regulating  the  affairs  of 
the  Mexicans,  and  resting  from  his  long  and  tedious 
march.  He  moved  from  this  place  to  Monterey,  Mexico, 
thence  to  the  mouth  of  the  Eio  Grande,  and  thence  by 
water  home  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 

After  Doniphan  started  from  Santa  Fe,  Colonel  Ster 
ling  Price,  of  the  2d  regiment  of  Missouri  Cavalry,  was 
left  in  command.  A  revolution  broke  out  among  the 
Mexicans,  and  Governor  Charles  Bent,  and  most  of  the 
civil  officers  of  the  Territory,  were  most  basely  and  cru 
elly  murdered  by  them.  These  murders  occurred  at  the 
town  of  Taos,  and  Price,  upon  hearing  of  them,  determ 
ined  not  only  to  punish  the  rebels,  but  to  capture  and  put 
to  death  the  murderers. 

Starting  from  Santa  Fe  on  the  23d  of  January,  1847, 
with  a  battalion  of  Missouri  cavalry,  some  Santa  Fe  in 
fantry  under  Captain  St.  Yrain,  and  two  howitzers  under 
Lieutenant  Dyer,  he  continued  his  course  toward  Taos 


108  History  of  the 

until  the  afternoon  of  the  24th,  when,  near  the  town  of 
Canada,  he  discovered  the  enemy  in  front.  Preparations 
were  immediately  made  for  action.  Seeing  the  enemy 
had  possession  of  a  range  of  hills  beyond  a  creek  near 
by,  he  ordered  his  howitzers  to  open  upon  them,  and  fol 
lowed  with  his  men  at  a  charge.  The  enemy  gave  way, 
and  retreated  toward  Taos,  after  having  made  an  unsuc 
cessful  attempt  to  capture  the  baggage  train.  The  loss 
to  the  Americans  was  not  material,  and  that  of  the  ene 
my  did  not  appear  to  frighten  them. 

Oh  the  27th  Price  was  joined  by  Captain  Burgwin's 
company  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  serving  on  foot,  and  a 
company  of  Missouri  cavalry.  With  these  he  contin 
ued  his  march.  On  the  29th  the  enemy  again  made  their 
appearance  near  the  pass  of  Embudo.  They  were  well 
posted  on  the  slopes  of  a  steep  mountain,  whose  sides 
were  covered  with  a  thick  growth  of  cedars.  Our  men 
climbed  the  mountain  sides,  and,  upon  their  approach, 
the  enemy  gave  ground,  retreated  across  the  mountains 
through  the  pass,  and  were  followed  by  our  men ;  but 
the  enemy  made  good  their  escape,  after  suffering  the  loss 
of  some  twenty  killed  and  several  wounded. 

On  the  30th  and  31st  the  column  continued  its  march, 
and  on  the  1st  of  February  reached  the  summit  of  the 
Taos  Mountain,  which  was  covered  with  two  feet  of  snow, 
and  on  the  2d  encamped  near  a  small  village  called  Eio 
Chiquito,  in  the  entrance  of  the  valley  of  Taos. 

The  march  had  been  severe,  most  of  the  men  had  been 
frostbitten,  and  all  were  jaded  by  the  exertions  necessary 
to  travel  over  unbroken  roads,  which  they  had  necessari 
ly  to  do  to  make  a  path  for  the  baggage- wagons  and  ar- 


United  States  Cavalry.  109 

tillery.  The  men  bore  every  thing  without  a  murmur, 
and  on  the  3d  marched  through  Don  Fernando  de  Taos 
to  the  Pueblo  de  Taos,  which  was  found  to  be  a  place  of 
great  strength,  surrounded  by  adobe  walls  and  strong 
pickets.  Within  the  inclosure  were  two  large  buildings, 
eight  stories  high,  each  capable  of  sheltering  five  or  six 
hundred  men.  Besides  these  there  were  several  smaller 
buildings  and  a  large  church.  The  walls  were  pierced 
for  rifles,  and  the  town  was  well  adapted  for  defense, 
every  point  being  flanked  by  projecting  buildings. 

On  the  4th  of  February,  1847,  after  a  careful  reconnois- 
sance,  the  attack  on  the  town  was  commenced  by  a  can 
nonade  of  the  town  from  the  artillery  under  Major  Clark, 
Lieutenant  Dyer,  of  the  Ordnance,  and  Lieutenant  Has- 
sendaubel  (the  latter  was  afterward  killed  at  the  siege  of 
Yicksburg,  while  colonel  of  a  loyal  Missouri  regiment), 
who  kept  up  a  brisk  and  effective  fire.  At  a  given  sig 
nal,  Captain  Burg  win,  at  the  head  of  his  own  company 
and  that  of  Captain  McMillan,  2d  Missouri  Cavalry, 
charged  the  western  flank  of  the  church  where  the  ene 
my  had  taken  a  stand,  while  another  party  charged  the 
northern  wall.  As  soon  as  the  troops  had  reached  the 
western  flank,  axes  were  used  in  the  attempt  to  break  it ; 
and  a  temporary  ladder  having  been  made,  the  thatched 
roof  was  fired.  About  this  time,  Captain  Burgwin,  at  the 
head  of  a  small  party,  left  the  cover  afforded  by  the  flank 
of  the  church,  and,  penetrating  into  the  corral  in  front  of 
that  building,  endeavored  to  force  the  door.  In  this  ex 
posed  situation  he  was  severely  wounded,  and  died  from 
its  effects  three  days  after.  Lieutenants  Mcllvain,  of  the 
1st  Dragoons,  and  William  B.  Royall  and  Lackland,  of  the 


110  History  of  the 

2d  Missouri  Cavalry,  accompanied  Captain  Burgwin  into 
the  corral ;  but  the  attempt  proved  a  failure,  and  they 
were  forced  to  retire.  In  the  mean  time  holes  had  been 
cut  in  the  walls  of  the  church,  and  shells  had  been  thrown 
in  by  hand,  doing  good  execution.  The  enemy  had  all 
this  time  kept  up  a  brisk  fire.  About  half  past  three 
o'clock  P.M.,  a  six-pounder  was  run  up  within  sixty 
yards  of  the  church,  and  after  ten  rounds,  one  of  the  holes 
which  had  been  cut  by  the  axes  was  widened  into  a  prac 
ticable  breach.  The  gun  was  now  run  up  within  ten 
yards  of  the  wall,  a  shell  was  thrown  in,  followed  by  three 
rounds  of  grape,  when  the  storming-party  entered  with 
out  opposition.  The  interior  of  the  church  was  full  of 
smoke,  which  shielded  our  men  from  view  of  the  enemy. 
They  ran  out  of  the  church,  and  many  of  them  fled  to 
the  mountains ;  others  took  refuge  in  one  of  the  large 
houses,  and  next  morning  surrendered.  The  murderers 
of  Governor  Bent  were  captured  and  punished,  as  were 
the  leaders  of  the  insurrection. 

This  was  a  hard  and  well-fought  affair,  and  our  men 
deserved  great  credit.  Burgwin,  who  was  a  noble  man, 
was  shot,  as  before  mentioned,  and  the  1st  Dragoons  lost 
in  him  one  of  its  best  officers.  Our  men  all  behaved  ad 
mirably  ;  and  Second  Lieutenants  Wilson  and  O.  H.  P. 
Taylor,  1st  Dragoons,  were  made  brevet  first  lieutenants. 
Lieutenant  Joseph  Mcllvain,  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  greatly 
distinguished  himself,  and  would  no  doubt  have  been 
breveted,  but,  unfortunately,  he  accidentally  shot  himself 
at  Albuquerque,  New  Mexico,  and  died  on  the  12th  of 
July,  1847. 

Lieutenant  John  Mansfield,  of  the  2d  Missouri  Cavalry, 


United  States  Cavalry.  Ill 

was  mortally  wounded,  and  died  on  the  16th  of  Feb 
ruary.  Captain  Samuel  H.  McMillan,  and  Lieutenant 
Thomas  Gr.  West,  of  the  same  regiment,  were  wounded. 

Colonel  Price's  total  loss  was  fifty-two  killed  and 
wounded.  The  enemy  lost  about  one  hundred  and  fifty, 
as  nearly  as  it  could  be  ascertained. 

Captain  Israel  E.  Hendley,  of  the  separate  battalion  of 
Missouri  Yolunteers,  was  killed  at  Mora  on  the  2-ith  of 
January  by  a  party  of  insurgents  whom  he  had  attacked 
in  a  house.  Four  of  his  men  were  killed  at  the  same 
time. 

Colonel  Price  returned  to  Santa  Fe,  but  the  rebels  con 
tinued  to  annoy  our  people  for  some  time  longer.  On 
the  20th  of  May  they  surprised  Captain  Eobinson's  camp, 
of  the  separate  battalion  of  Missouri  Yolunteers* and 
stampeded  and  drove  off  two  hundred  horses  and  mules. 

At  Las  Yallas  they  fell  upon  Lieutenant  Eobert  T. 
Brown,  of  the  2d  Missouri  Cavalry,  and  murdered  him 
and  his  whole  party  on  the  27th  of  June;  and  again,  on 
the  6th  of  July,  at  the  grazing  camp  of  the  separate  bat 
talion  of  Missouri  Cavalry,  Captain  Morris's  company 
was  attacked,  and  Lieutenant  John  Larkin  and  four  men 
killed,  and  nine  wounded.  These  operations  were  car 
ried  on  by  the  half-breed  Indians  and  Mexicans,  who 
possess  a  most  malignant  and  cruel  disposition,  and  are 
always  ready  to  commit  any  act  of  treachery  in  their 
power.  The  forces  under  Price  were  so  much  diminish 
ed  by  the  term  of  service  of  the  volunteers  having  ex 
pired  that  he  was  obliged  to  keep  most  of  his  troops  in 
Santa  Fe. 

Eumors  of  insurrections  were  rife,  and  it  was  said  that 


112  History  of  the 

a  large  force  of  Mexicans  was  marching  on  Santa  Fe  from 
Chihuahua.  "I  am  unable  to  ascertain,"  said  Price,  in 
his  letter  to  the  adjutant  general,  "whether  these  rumors 
are  true  or  false,  but  it  is  certain  that  the  New  Mexicans 
entertain  deadly  hatred  against  the  Americans,  and  they 
will  cut  off  small  parties  of  the  latter  whenever  they 
think  they  can  escape  detection." 

It  is  now  time  to  return  to  General  Scott's  line  of  oper 
ations.  He  was  in  the  city  of  Mexico ;  Colonel  Childs, 
with  a  small  garrison,  was  in  the  city  of  Puebla ;  and 
all  communication  with  the  sea-board  was  cut  off.  In 
this  condition  of  things,  it  was  necessary  that  something 
should  be  done. 

Major  Folliot  T.Lally,  of  the  9th  regiment  of  Infantry, 
left  Yera  Cruz  on  the  6th  of  August,  1847,  with  a  mixed 
command  of  recruits  and  parts  of  regiments,  on  his  way 
to  join  General  Scott,  but  his  march  was  harassed  at 
all  points  by  the  guerrillas,  and  he  lost  many  men ;  final 
ly,  after  much  peril,  he  reached  the  city  of  Jalapa,  where 
he  was  forced  to  halt  until  re-enforcements  could  be  sent 
to  him.  This  force  was  a  little  over  one  thousand  strong, 
and  contained  two  companies  of  horse,  viz.,  Captain  Loy- 
all's  company  of  Georgia  cavalry,  and  Captain  Besan- 
gon's  company  of  Louisiana  cavalry.  During  the  march 
they  could  not  be  of  much  service,  though  several  of  the 
men  were  picked  off  by  the  enemy. 

Brigadier  General  Joseph  Lane,  with  his  brigade,  left 
Yera  Cruz  on  the  19th  of  September,  1847,  for  the  city 
of  Mexico.  The  weather  was  intensely  hot,  and  his  men 
made  slow  progress.  A  party  of  guerrillas  attacked  the 
column  on  the  20th,  and  a*  company  of  Louisiana  Cavalry, 


United  States  Cavalry.  113 

under  Captain  Lewis,  which  was  his  only  mounted  force, 
easily  routed  them,  killing  and  wounding  several.  On 
the  22d,  as  the  command  was  about  starting  in  the  morn 
ing,  another  attack  was  made  by  the  guerrillas,  and  a  fine 
young  officer  named  John  Kline,  who  was  second  lieuten 
ant  in  Lewis's  company,  was  killed.  The  guerrillas  were 
again  driven  off,  and  did  not  molest  the  column  any  more. 

Lane's  men  were  without  tents,  and  in  the  rains  which 
fell  during  the  latter  part  of  September  and  in  October, 
they  suffered  very  much.  At  Jalapa  his  command  was 
increased  by  that  of  Major  Lally,  and  again  pushed  on, 
the  cavalry  companies  of  Besangon  and  Loyall  joining 
that  of  Lewis. 

At  Perote  his  force  was  again  increased  by  Captain 
Samuel  H.  Walker's  company  C,  regiment  of  Mounted 
Eiflemen,  which  was  splendidly  armed  and  equipped,  and 
a  battalion  of  infantry.  He  learned  on  the  8th  of  Octo 
ber,  while  at  the  hacienda  of  San  Antonio  Tamaris,  that 
Santa  Anna,  with  a  large  Mexican  force,  was  at  Huamant- 
la,  some  twelve  miles  distant.  This  Mexican  general, 
after  his  defeat  at  the  capital,  had  escaped  with  a  large 
number  of  soldiers,  and  had  fallen  upon  Colonel  Childs's 
garrison  at  Puebla,  which  he  had  been  besieging  since 
about  the  loth  of  September.  Hearing  of  Lane's  ap 
proach,  he  moved  down  the  Mexican  road  and  fortified 
the  pass  of  El  Final,  determined  to  arrest  his  farther  prog 
ress.  The  ground  was  admirably  chosen,  being  a  high 
bluff  or  side  of  a  hill  on  the  left,  and  a  steep  declivity  on 
the  right  of  the  road ;  but  General  Lane  did  not  allow 
himself  to  be  caught  in  this  very  nice  trap  which  had 
been  laid  for  him.  Learning  that  Santa  Anna  was  off 


114  History  of  the 

the  road  at  Huamantla,  where  he  could  more  easily  sub 
sist  his  troops,  Lane  determined  to  give  him  battle  there, 
and  thus  prevent  the  Mexican  soldiers  from  guarding 
the  Final  Pass. 

I  was  a  subaltern  in  Lane's  command  at  the  time,  and 
well  recollect  the  enthusiasm  which  prevailed  among  the 
soldiers  at  the  idea  of  meeting  Santa  Anna.     Captain 
Walker,  who  had  had  considerable  experience,  was  or 
dered  to  take  command  of  the  four  companies  of  cavalry, 
which  was  really  a  very  respectable  body  of  men.     He 
had  orders  to  lead  off,  and,  when  he  came  in  sight  of  the 
Mexican  forces,  to  wait  until  the  infantry  support  could 
come  up.     The  heat  was  overpowering,  but  still  every 
body  kept  up  as  well  as  possible ;  and  when  within  three 
miles  of  the  city,  Walker  discovered  a  body  of  Mexicans 
which  he  supposed  was  about  equal  to  his  own,  and,  or 
dering  his  men  to  follow,  away  he  went  at  a  gallop. 
The  Mexicans  fled  toward  the  town,  with  Walker  and 
his  men  streaming  after  them.     The  charge  of  our  caval 
ry  was  most  splendid,  and  it  is  no  disparagement  to  any 
one  to  say  that  it  has  had  few  equals  in  our  country. 
The  Mexicans  could  not  withstand  it,  though  they  .fought 
with  their  lanc.es  with  considerable  effect ;  but  the  Eifles 
were  determined  to  beat  them,  and  they  scattered  in  all 
directions.     Walker's  company  did  the  whole  thing,  and 
suffered  in  consequence   most  severely.     At  this  time 
Walker  supposed  that  all  was  over,  and  the  Mexicans 
conquered ;  but  in  this  he  was  mistaken.     A  large  force 
of  lancers  came  rolling  into  town  before  the  American  in 
fantry  column  could  get  there,  and,  falling  upon  Walker's 
company,  some  of  whom  had  dismounted  to  save  some 


United  States  Cavalry.  115 

pieces  of  artillery,  it  was,  in  effect,  cut  to  pieces.  Walker 
himself  was  shot  down,  and  died  in  a  few  minutes,  and 
his  whole  cavalry  force  took  refuge  in  a  church-yard. 
This  column  of  lancers  numbered  between  two  and  three 
thousand,  and,  had  it  not  been  for  the  opportune  arrival 
of  the  infantry,  it  is  a  question  whether  any  of  the  caval 
ry  would  have  escaped.  The  fight  was  now  soon  over, 
and  the  Mexicans,  with  Santa  Anna,  started  off  on  their 
way  to  Queretaro.  This  was  the  last  time  he  ever  met 
the  Americans  in  battle,  and  Lane's  infantry  had  the 
honor  of  finishing  the  military  career  of  this  celebrated 
officer.  In  the  fight,  Walker,  Lewis,  and  Besangon  be 
haved  admirably,  as  did  Lieutenants  Claiborne,  of  the 
Eifles,  and  Anderson,  of  the  Georgia  Cavalry.  In  the 
action  Walker's  company  had  thirteen  men  killed  and 
eleven  wounded. 

On  account  of  this  action  Lieutenant  Thomas  Claiborne 
was  made  a  brevet  captain. 

The  Mexican  lancers  I  saw  thaft  day  made  a  most 
splendid  appearance,  with  their  flashing  lances,  bright 
pennons,  and  green  uniforms.  They  were  in  sight  of  our 
column  for  a  considerable  time  as  we  were  approaching 
the  town  at  right  angles  to  each  other,  and  each  was  striv 
ing  to  get  there  first. 

In  the  night  Lane's  command  returned  to  the  hacienda, 
and  on  the  12th  of  October  reached  the  beautiful  city  of 
Puebla. 

After  Lane  had  been  here  several  days,  he  learned  that 
General  Rea,  of  the  Mexican  army,  was  at  Atlixco,  a  town 
some  thirty  miles  distant,  with  a  large  force  of  Mexican 
soldiers,  and  determined  to  attack  him.  Captain  Lemuel 


116  History  of  the 

Ford,  with  his  company  of  the  3d  Dragoons,  had  been 
with  Colonel  Childs  during  the  whole  siege  of  Puebla, 
and  he  was  put  in  command  of  the  cavalry,  Lieutenant 
Martin  commanding  his  company.  Walker's  company 
was  left  in  Puebla,  as  it  was  so  cut  up  as  to  be  of  little 
use. 

On  the  19th  of  October,  the  column,  with  the  cavalry 
in  advance,  left  Puebla.  It  was  a  fine  day,  but  was  again 
most  intensely  hot,  and  our  Northern  soldiers  suffered 
accordingly.  Lane  had  a  due  proportion  of  artillery  and 
infantry,  and  two  companies  of  cavalry — one  of  the  3d 
Dragoons,  and  one  of  Louisiana. 

Though  I  was  myself  in  this  action,  I  copy  portions 
of  Lane's  report,  which  gives  a  very  fair  account  of  the 
fight.  He  says:  "About  four  o'clock  P.M.,  when  near 
Santa  Isabella,  seven  leagues  from  this  place  (Puebla), 
the  advance  guard  of  the  enemy  was  discovered.  A  halt 
was  ordered  until  the  cavalry  (which  had  previously  been 
detached  to  examine  <a  hacienda)  should  arrive.  The  en 
emy,  with  his  accustomed  bravado,  came  to  the  foot  of  the 
hill  in  small  parties,  firing  their  escopetas  and  waving 
their  lances.  On  the  arrival  of  the  cavalry,  a  forward 
movement  was  made  by  the  column.  A  large,  deep  ra 
vine  appearing  on  the  left  of  the  road,  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Moore,  with  his  Ohio  regiment,  was  ordered  to  flank  it, 
Major  Lally,  with  his  battalion,  leading  the  advance.  Our 
column  had  scarcely  commenced  its  movement  when 
signs  of  confusion  were  visible  among  the  enemy ;  in 
consequence  of  which,  the  cavalry  was  ordered  to  charge, 
follow  them  up,  and  engage  them  until  the  infantry  could 
arrive.  Lieutenant  Pratt,  with  his  battery,  was  ordered 


United  States  Cavalry.  117 

to  follow  in  rear  of  the  dragoons  at  a  gallop.  Had  this 
movement  been  performed,  the  whole  force  would  have 
been  ours.  But,  by  an  order  from  Major  Lally,  Lieuten 
ant  Pratt  was  taken  from  the  place  assigned  him  by  me, 
and,  in  consequence,  detained  until  a  greater  portion  of 
the  column  had  passed ;  then,  owing  to  the  nature  of  the 
ground,  it  was  impossible  for  his  battery  to  proceed  with 
rapidity. 

"  The  cavalry  pursued  the  retreating  enemy  for  about 
a  mile  and  a  half,  skirmishing  with  them.  On  arriving 
at  a  small  hill  they  made  a  stand,  and  fought  severely 
until  our  infantry  appeared,  when  they  took  flight.  Our 
artillery  fired  a  few  shots  as  soon  as  it  came  up,  but  with 
out  effect,  as,  by  their  rapid  retreat,  they  had  placed  them 
selves  at  long  range.  The  dragoons  were  again  ordered 
to  follow  and  keep  them  engaged.  After  a  running  fight 
of  about  four  miles,  and  when  within  a  mile  and  a  half 
of  Atlixco,  the  whole  body  of  the  enemy  was  discovered 
on  a  side  hill,  covered  with  chaparral,  forming  hedges, 
behind  which  they  had  posted  themselves.  Our  cavalry 
dashed  among  them,  cutting  them  down  in  great  num 
bers.  So  thick  was  the  chaparral,  that  the  dragoons  were 
ordered  to  dismount  and  fight  them  on  foot.  A  most 
bloody  conflict  ensued,  fatal  to  the  enemy.  Our  infantry 
for  the  last  six  miles  had  been  straining  themselves  to 
the  utmost  to  overtake  the  enemy,  pressing  forward  most 
arduously,  notwithstanding  the  forced  march  of  sixteen 
miles  since  eleven  o'clock.  Owing  to  the  nature  of  the 
road,  almost  entirely  destroyed  by  gullies,  the  artillery 
could  only  advance  at  a  walk.  As  soon  as  the  infantry 
again  appeared  in  sight,  the  enemy  again  retreated.  So 


118  History  of  the 

worn  out  were  our  horses  (the  sun  having  been  broiling 
hot  all  day)  that  they  could  pursue  the  enemy  no  farther. 
The  column  was  pressed  forward  as  rapidly  as  possible 
toward  the  town ;  but  night  had  already  shut  in,  giving 
us,  however,  the  advantage  of  a  fine  moonlight.  As  we 
approached,  several  shots  were  fired  at  us,  and,  deeming 
it  unsafe  to  risk  a  street-fight  in  an  unknown  town  at 
night,  I  ordered  the  artillery  to  be  posted  on  a  hill  near 
to  the  town  and  overlooking  it,  and  open  its  fire. 

"After  firing  three  quarters  of  an  hour,  and  the  firing 
from  the  town  having  ceased,  I  ordered  Major  Lally  and 
Colonel  Brough  to  advance  cautiously  with  their  com 
mands  into  the  town.  On  entering,  I  was  waited  upon 
by  the  ayuntamiento,  desiring  that  their  town  might  be 
spared.  After  searching  the  next  morning  for  arms  and 
ammunition,  and  disposing  of  what  was  found,  I  com 
menced  my  return. 

"  General  Kea  had  two  pieces  of  artillery,  but,  as  soon 
as  he  was  aware  of  our  approach,  he  ordered  them  with 
haste  to  Matamoros,  a  small  town  eleven  leagues  beyond. 
The  enemy  state  their  own  loss  in  this  action  to  be  two 
hundred  and  nineteen  killed  and  three  hundred  wounded. 
Scarcely  ever  has  a  more  rapid  forced  march  been  made 
than  this,  or  productive  of  better  results.  Atlixco  has 
been  the  head-quarters  of  guerrillas  in  this  section  of  the 
country,  and  of  late  the  seat  of  government  in  this  state. 
From  thence  all  expeditions  have  been  fitted  out  against 
our  troops.  So  much  terror  has  been  impressed  upon 
them  at  thus  having  war  brought  to  their  own  homes, 
that  I  am  inclined  to  believe  they  will  give  us  no  more 
trouble." 


United  States  Cavalry,  119 

The  loss  to  Lane's  command  was  very  small,  and  I 
think  the  number  of  their  killed  may  have  been  overes 
timated.  But  I  saw  many  of  their  dead  lying  along  the 
road. 

In  consequence  of  good  conduct  in  this  affair,  Captain 
Ford  was  breveted  major,  and  Lieutenant  Martin,  of  the 
3d  Dragoons,  was  breveted  first  lieutenant 

Lane's  command  returned  to  Puebla,  and  a  few  days 
afterward  he  went  to  the  city  of  Mexico. 

One  battalion  of  the  3d  Dragoons  was  sent  to  the  Eio 
Grande  after  it  was  raised,  and  served  there,  under  com 
mand  of  Colonel  Butler  and  Major  Cass,  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  This  battalion  had  no  opportunity  to  distin 
guish  itself  particularly,  though  it  was  a  fine  body  of  men 
and  was  well  disciplined.  Adjutant  Edward  McPherson, 
of  this  regiment,  was  killed  in  a  duel  at  Mier,  Mexico, 
March  16th,  1848. 

General  Lane,  with  a  cavalry  command,  did  much  good 
service  toward  the  closing  scenes  of  the  Mexican  ~\Var, 
which  I  will  attempt  to  give  in  the  order  in  which  the 
fights  occurred.  On  the  22d  of  November,  1847,  he 
moved  with  a  command  of  Texas  cavalry  under  Colonel 
Hays,  Lewis's  company  of  Louisiana  cavalry,  and  one 
piece  of  artillery,  to  Matamoros,  about  fifty -four  miles 
from  Puebla,  which  distance  he  marched  in  twelve  hours. 
Here  he  made  an  attack  upon  a  party  of  Mexicans,  de 
feated  them,  and  destroyed  a  quantity  of  ammunition, 
stores,  etc. 

"When  returning,  on  the  24th,  he  was  in  turn  attacked 
by  the  Mexicans,  and,  after  a  severe  fight,  drove  them  off, 
but  his  command  suffered  a  good  deal.  This  is  known 


120  History  of  the 

as  the  fight  at  the  Pass  of  Galaxara.  Lane's  losses  in 
these  affairs  were  inconsiderable,  though  in  the  latter  his 
acting  assistant  adjutant  general,  Henderson  Ridgely,  First 
Lieutenant  4th  United  States  Infantry,  was  killed.  The 
Mexicans  suffered  to  a  greater  extent  than  did  our  troops. 
The  command  returned  to  Puebla,  and  Lane  then  march 
ed  to  the  city  of  Mexico. 

On  the  18th  of  January  he  again  started  from  the  cap 
ital  with  one  company  of  Mounted  Riflemen,  two  of  the 
3d  Dragoons,  and  four  of  Texas  Rangers,  his  object  be 
ing  to  capture  General  Santa  Anna,  who  was  known  to 
be  in  the  city  of  Tehuacan,  many  miles  away.  He  trav 
eled  by  night  in  order  to  deceive  the  enemy.  On  the 
second  night  out  from  Puebla  he  encountered  a  coach 
with  an  armed  escort.  This  he  halted,  but  the  owner 
producing  a  safeguard  from  the  Governor  of  Mexico,  he 
was  obliged  to  release  him.  No  sooner  had  Lane  left 
than  this  Mexican  put  one  of  his  servants  on  a  mule,  and 
sent  him  with  all  haste  to  Santa  Anna,  who,  being  ap 
prised  of  Lane's  approach,  started  from  Tehuacan  at  once. 

Lane's  party  entered  the  city,  but  the  bird  had  flown ; 
and,  after  a  fruitless  search  of  some  hours,  he  was  found 
to  have  been  too  quick  for  the  Americans.  This  was  a 
sore  disappointment,  but  the  soldiers  made  the  best  of  it 
by  capturing  all  of  Santa  Anna's  military  property,  which 
they  carried  away  as  legitimate  spoil.  Lane  captured  the 
town  of  Tehuacan,  the  city  of  Orizaba,  and  the  town  of 
Cordova,  killing  several  .enemies,  and  doing  much  service. 
Upon  his  return,  the  dragoons,  under  Major  Polk,  had  a 
skirmish  with  a  body  of  guerrillas  under  Don  Manuel 
Falcon,  who  were  signally  defeated. 


United  States  Cavalry.  121 

Learning  that  a  body  of  guerrillas  was  infesting  the 
country  north  and  northeast  of  the  capital,  he  determ 
ined,  upon  his  return,  to  go  out  and  attempt  their  cap 
ture,  or,  at  least,  to  break  up  their  rendezvous ;  accord 
ingly,  he  started  on  the  17th  of  February,  1848,  with  a 
command  of  Mounted  Rifles,  3d  Dragoons,  and  Texas 
Rangers,  Major  Polk  again  commanding  the  regular  cav 
alry.  Lane  found  a  large  body  of  guerrillas,  under  Padre 
Jarauta,  at  the  town  of  Sequalteplan,  and,  after  a  spirited 
skirmish,  succeeded  in  defeating  them.  Padre  Martinez, 
the  second  in  command,  was  killed,  together  with  many 
others.  In  all  of  these  affairs  the  mounted  men  behaved 
well,  and  gained  considerable  reputation.  This  was  the 
last  fight  of  any  importance  which  occurred  in  the  vicin 
ity  of  the  city  of  Mexico. 

On  General  Taylor's  line,  another  dragoon  fight  of  some 
importance  took  place  at  Agua  Fria  on  the  2d  of  Novem 
ber,  1847.  The  dragoons  were  commanded  by  Captain 
Eeuben  P.  Campbell,  of  the  2d  regiment,  and  acquitted 
themselves  with  their  usual  gallantry. 

In  New  Mexico  trouble  was  again  brewing,  as  the 
country  was  left  nearly  barren  of  mounted  men  by  the 
expiration  of  the  term  of  service  of  the  twelve  months' 
volunteers.  Colonel  Price  had  returned  to  Missouri  with 
his  regiment,  but,  being  appointed  brigadier  general  of 
volunteers,  again  went  to  New  Mexico  in  the  autumn  of 
1847.  In  the  neighboring  state  of  Chihuahua,  a  Mexi 
can  force  had  been  gathered,  for  the  purpose,  it  was  sup 
posed,  of  attacking  the  towns  of  El  Paso  and  Santa  Fe. 
In  anticipation  of  this,  Price  determined  to  attack  the 
city  of  Chihuahua.  The  enemy  was  met  at  Santa  Cruz 

F 


122  History  of  the 

de  Eosales,  sixty  miles  from  Chihuahua,  and  the  town 
was  stormed  on  the  16th  of  March,  1848.  Price's  com 
mand  consisted  of  portions  of  the  1st  regiment  United 
States  Dragoons,  and  of  detachments  of  Missouri  cavalry. 
The  American  loss  was  not  great,  though.  Lieutenant 
George  O.  Hepburn,  of  the  Missouri  cavalry,  was  killed, 
besides  several  men,  and  a  number  of  dragoons  and  vol 
unteers  were  wounded.  This  was  the  last  act  in  the  war 
with  Mexico,  and  our  soldiers  were  allowed  a  period  of 
rest. 

Major  Benjamin  L.Beall,  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  was  bre 
veted  lieutenant  colonel  for  this  action ;  Captain  William 
N.  Grier,  of  the  same  regiment,  was  breveted  major ;  First 
Lieutenants  John  Love  and  O.  H.  P.  Taylor  were  brevet 
ed  captains;  and  Second  Lieutenant  John  Adams  first 
lieutenant. 

Lieutenant  William  B.  Eoyall,  while  escorting  Major 
Bryant,  paymaster,  on  his  way  to  Santa  Fe  from  Fort 
Leavenworth,  had  a  fight  with  a  party  of  Indians,  in 
which  he  succeeded  in  giving  them  a  severe  chastise 
ment.  This  occurred  on  the  18th  of  June,  1848. 

When  the  Mexican  War  closed,  the  Sd  regiment  of 
Dragoons,  which  had  been  raised  to  serve  during  the  war, 
was  disbanded.  It  had  done  some  good  service,  though 
nothing  to  greatly  distinguish  itself. 


United  States  Cavalry.  123 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Close  of  the  Mexican  War. — Cooke's  March  to  California. — Mounted 
Rifle  Regiment  sent  to  Oregon. — Indian  Depredations. — Fights  in 
Texas. — Steen's  Pursuit  of  Indians. — Death  of  Colonel  Mason. — Lieu 
tenant  Stuart  killed. — Captain  Van  Buren  killed. — Fights  with  the 
Apaches. — Davidson's  Fight. — Affair  in  the  Guadelupe  Mountains. — 
Captain  Stanton  killed. 

AT  the  close  of  the  Mexican  TVar,  in  the  summer  of 
1848,  the  troops  left  the  territory  of  that  republic.  Our 
own  country  obtained  a  large  accession  of  territory  as  a 
result  of  the  war,  and  California  and  New  Mexico  had 
been  retained  by  us.  The  3d  regiment  of  Dragoons  was 
sent  to  Jefferson  Barracks,  Missouri,  where  it  was  dis 
banded  ;  and  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  discharge  the 
enlisted  men  of  the  regiment  of  Mounted  Riflemen,  who 
had  found  some  pretext,  through  the  medium  of  certain 
legal  advisers,  to  annul  their  obligations  with  govern 
ment.  As  a  consequence  of  this,  it  required  some  time 
to  again  fill  up  that  regiment. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Clifton  "Wharton,  of  the  1st  Dra 
goons,  died  at  Fort  Leavenworth  on  the  13th  of  July, 
184:7.  Major  Edwin  V.  Sumner,  of  the  2d  Dragoons,  was 
promoted  in  his  place ;  and  Captain  Marshall  S.  Howe, 
of  the  2d  Dragoons,  was  promoted  major,  vice  Sumner. 

Major  Burbridge,  of  the  Mounted  Rifles,  resigned  on 
the  8th  of  January,  1848,  and  Captain  Winslow  F.  San-" 
derson  was  promoted  in  his  place. 


124  History  of  the 

I  had  failed  to  notice  in  the  proper  order  that  Lieuten 
ant  Colonel  Philip  St.  George  Cooke,  commanding  the 
Mormon  battalion  (captain  in  the  1st  Dragoons),  had  the 
honor  of  making  the  first  wagon  road  from  the  streams 
of  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  This  was  a  great 
undertaking  at  that  time,  which  was  in  the  autumn  and 
winter  of  1846-'47,  and  entitles  him  to  much  credit.  In 
his  report  to  General  Kearney  he  recounts  the  hardships 
endured  by  himself  and  his  men,  and  says  that  the  gen 
eral's  letters  to  him  made  it  almost  a  point  of  honor  to 
take  the  wagons  through  to  the  Pacific,  and  he  was  much 
retarded  in  making  and  finding  the  road.  The  breaking 
the  track,  often  through  thickets  of  mesquit  and  other 
thorny  bushes,  although  worked  on  by  pioneers,  was  so 
laborious  that  it  was  necessary  to  relieve  them  every 
hour. 

In  this  expedition  Cooke  was  accompanied  by  Lieuten 
ants  Andrew  J.  Smith  and  George  Stoneman,  of  the  1st 
Dragoons,  who  were  of  much  assistance  to  him,  and  who 
now  rank  in  our  service  among  our  very  best  officers. 

Cooke  was  breveted  lieutenant  colonel  for  meritorious 
conduct  in  California. 

The  close  of  the  year  1848  found  our  mounted  force 
scattered  far  and  wide.  There  was  one  company  at  each 
of  the  posts  of  Fort  Leavenworth,  Fort  Scott,  and  Fort 
Washita,  belonging  to  the  1st  Dragoons ;  three  companies 
in  New  Mexico;  three  in  California;  and  one  on  the 
Mississippi  Eiver,  above  Fort  Snelling.  Of  the  2d  Dra 
goons,  six  were  in  Texas,  two  in  New  Mexico,  and  two 
en  route  for  California.  The  Mounted  Kifle  regiment  was 
being  recruited,  and  was  under  orders  for  Oregon. 


United  Slates  Cavalry.  125 

The  gold  mines  had  been  discovered  in  California,  and 
a  new  fever  had  attacked  the  Americans.  Colonel  Ma 
son,  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  had  a  most  difficult  task  in  con 
trolling  the  restless  spirits  which  flocked  to  the  new-found 
land  of  gold,  and  desertions  became  so  frequent  as  to 
render  his  soldiers  of  no  avail ;  companies  dwindled  away 
in  a  single  night ;  and  it  was  a  serious  question  in  his 
mind  whether  all  the  enlisted  men  would  not  desert  in  a 
body.  And,  indeed,  this  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  as  the 
pay  of  infantry  soldiers  at  that  time  was  but  seven  dol 
lars  per  month,  and  cavalry  soldiers  eight,  and  in  the 
mines  they  could  easily  make  from  twenty  to  thirty  dol 
lars  per  day. 

Colonel  Mason's  administration  of  affairs  in  California 
was  successful,  and  he  was  made  a  brigadier  general  by 
brevet  for  meritorious  conduct  in  that  Territory. 

The  stations  of  troops  through  the  year  1849  remained 
substantially  the  same  as  the  dispositions  which  were 
made  at  the  close  of  the  war.  There  were  as  yet  no  In 
dian  depredations  of  any  magnitude,  and  our  soldiers  had 
a  time  to  rest. 

In  Texas,  the  commander  of  the  department  had  au 
thority  to  mount,  when  necessary,  a  portion  of  the  in 
fantry  force,  which  enabled  him,  with  a  proper  disposi 
tion  of  the  regular  cavalry,  to  concentrate  six  mounted 
companies  at  any  point  on  short  notice.  But  the  troops 
suffered  exceedingly  from  the  effects  of  cholera,  which  for 
a  time  threatened  to  cut  them  off  entirely.  The  positions 
at  Eagle  Pass,  near  the  high  road  from  San  Antonio  to 
Chihuahua,  at  Kinggold  Barracks,  and  at  Fort  Brown, 
had  larger  garrisons  than  the  frontier  posts,  because,  be- 


126  History  of  the 

ing  the  keys  to  the  upper  provinces  of  Mexico,  they  must 
necessarily  have  a  strong  influence  in  maintaining  peace 
ful  relations  along  the  boundary-line,  and  in  protecting 
the  revenue  laws.  The  Texans  had  taken  every  foot  of 
land  from  the  Indians,  as  they  had  done  from  the  Cath 
olic  Church. 

The  Mounted  Eiflemen  moved  westward  by  detach 
ments  from  Fort  Leavenworth  in  May,  1849,  and  were 
ordered  to  establish  a  chain  of  posts  along  the  route  to 
Oregon  Territory,  one  being  at  Fort  Kearney,  another  at 
Fort  Laramie,  three  hundred  and  fifty  miles  west,  and  an 
other  was  to  have  been  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Colum 
bia  Eiver,  near  Fort  Hall,  or  in  that  vicinity ;  but,  on 
account  of  a  scarcity  of  forage,  etc.,  it  was  not  located  at 
that  point.  This  was  at  that  time  like  finding  a  new 
world,  though  the  golden  attractions  of  California  drew 
the  young  and  adventurous  in  that  direction,  and  there 
was  far  less  enthusiasm  about  going  beyond  the  Eocky 
Mountains  than  there  otherwise  would  have  been. 

The  soldiers  would  desert  in  spite  of  every  precaution, 
and  wend  their  way  to  the  gold-fields,  which  had  then  so 
recently  been  discovered.  It  was  a  gay,  wild,  roving  life, 
and  the  genii  of  the  mines  enticed  many  a  young  man  to 
ruin. 

The  Mounted  Eifles  were  marched  to  Oregon,  under 
command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Loring,  Fremont  having 
resigned,  and  Loring  having  been  promoted  in  his  place. 
This  vacancy  was  filled  by  the  promotion  of  Captain 
George  B.  Crittenden  to  the  majority.  He  was  a  son  of 
the  Hon.  John  J.  Crittenden,  of  Kentucky.  During  the 
winter  of  1849-'50  desertions  were  very  common,  and  at 


United  States  Cavalry.  127 

one  time  more  than  one  hundred  deserted  in  a  body. 
Loring  pursued  them,  and  captured  over  seventy,  having 
made  a  march  in  mid- winter,  going  and  coming,  of  over 
one  thousand  miles. 

While  these  events  were  transpiring  in  and  on  the  route 
to  Oregon,  the  Indians  of  Texas  and  New  Mexico  had 
commenced  their  depredations  upon  the  settlers.  There 
was  wrong,  no  doubt,  on  both  sides,  although  I  am  per 
sonally  far  from  believing  the  Indians  themselves  to  be 
saints,  and  can  not  join  the  very  good  people  of  the  quiet 
settlements  in  believing  "  the  Poor  Indian'7  is  incapable 
of  doing  harm,  and  that  all  the  fault  is  on  the  side  of  the 
white  people.  I  have  seen  too  much  of  their  cruelty  to 
believe  that ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  I  think  they  were 
sometimes — not  often — imposed  upon. 

Major  Steen,  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  had  a  fight  with  a 
party  of  Apaches  on  the  15th  of  August,  1849,  in  which 
he  was  severely  wounded. 

In  the  spring  and  summer  of  1850,  the  Indians,  prin 
cipally  Camanches,  became  quite  troublesome,  and  three 
companies  of  Texas  Eangers  were  called  out  to  assist  the 
regular  cavalry.  One  of  these  was  commanded  by  Cap 
tain  John  S.  Ford,  who  was  a  good  Indian  fighter — a, 
brave  man — and  one  who,  in  two  minor  conflicts  with 
the  savages,  defeated  them,  and  otherwise  did  good  serv 
ice. 

Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel  Hardee,  with  a  portion  of 
the  2d  Dragoons  and  some  Eangers,  in  the  months  of 
July  and  August,  1850,  organized  a  campaign  against 
them.  His  command  met  the  Indians  on  several  occa 
sions,  and  in  one  of  them  Brevet  Captain  James  Oakes, 


128  History  of  the 

of  the  2d  Dragoons,  was  severely  wounded  in  the  breast 
by  an  arrow,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  has  never  re 
covered.  This  happened  in  August. 

In  New  Mexico  Major  Steen  and  Major  Grier,  both  of 
the  1st  Dragoons,  had  severe  skirmishes  with  the  Indians, 
and  captured  some  of  their  property.  Steen's  pursuit  of 
them,  which  occurred  in  February,  was  most  exciting. 
After  he  had  followed  one  party  many  miles,  he  came 
upon  another  after  passing  through  a  canon  above  the 
San  Diego.  The  Indians  were  in  full  sight  of  Steen's 
command,  not  more  than  a  mile  ahead,  and  on  a  level 
plain,  both  parties  at  the  top  of  their  speed,  and  thus  was 
the  chase  continued  over  thirty  miles  until  the  horses 
were  completely  broken  down.  Toward  the  last,  the  In 
dians  were  to  be  seen  throwing  away  blankets,  provisions, 
and  every  thing  but  their  arms,  rendering  themselves  as 
light  as  possible.  Three  of  Steen's  best  horses  were  left 
dead  on  the  route. 

Major  Grier  killed  several  of  the  enemy,  and  lost  some 
of  his  own  command.  He  captured  sixty  horses  and 
mules,  eighty  head  of  cattle,  one  hundred  and  fifty  sheep, 
and  a  quantity  of  provisions  and  camp  materials.  This 
was  on  the  26th  of  July,  1850. 

Colonel  Eichard  B.  Mason,  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  died  at 
Jefferson  Barracks  on  the  25th  of  July,  1850.  Lieuten 
ant  Colonel  Fauntleroy,  of  the  2d,  was  promoted  in  his 
place.  Major  Nathan  Boone  became  lieutenant  colonel 
of  the  1st,  and  Captain  George  A.  II.  Blake,  of  the  2d, 
became  major.  Captain  Croghan  Ker,  of  the  2d  Dra 
goons,  resigned  on  the  10th  of  November,  1851.  Brevet 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Backenstoss,  and  Brevet  Major  Tuck- 


United  States  Cavalry.  129 

er,  of  the  Mounted  Eifles,  resigned  on  the  30th  of  June, 
1851. 

In  the  summer  of  1851  the  Mounted  Eifle  regiment 
left  Oregon,  and,  going  by  sea  to  San  Francisco  and  Pan 
ama,  returned  to  Jefferson  Barracks.  The  reason  for  this 
movement  was  the  fact  that  the  regiment  was  almost  re 
duced  to  nothing  by  desertions,  and  the  Indians  of  Ore 
gon  had  promised  to  remain  at  peace  with  the  whites. 
Notwithstanding  this,  Captain  James  Stuart,  of  this  regi 
ment,  was  mortally  wounded  in  a  skirmish  with  the  In 
dians  on  Eogue  Kiver  on  the  17th  of  June,  1851,  and 
died  on  the  following  day.  He  was  a  most  excellent  offi 
cer,  and  those  who  knew  him  loved  him  for  his  many 
good  qualities  and  dauntless  courage. 

The  years  1851  and  1852  do  not  appear  to  have  been 
at  all  eventful  in  the  history  of  the  cavalry,  and,  with 
the  exception  of  Colonel  Sumner's  somewhat  celebrated 
march  to  the  canon  of  Chelly,  in  New  Mexico,  there  is 
little  to  be  found  of  interest  to  cavalry  men.  This  was 
an  expedition  against  the  Navajoes,  a  tribe  inhabiting  the 
country  west  of  the  Eio  Grande,  semi-civilized,  and,  per 
haps,  in  the  same  condition  the  Aztecs  were  in  when  the 
valley  of  Mexico  was  invaded  by  Cortez. 

In  the  canon  of  Chelly  Sumner's  dragoons  did  not 
gather  many  laurels,  though  they  did  their  duty;  but 
the  Indians  were  too  wily  for  them,  and,  lining  the  sides 
of  the  pass,  or  canon,  they  rolled  down  rocks,  fired  guns, 
and  shot  arrows  at  our  troops,  until  they  were  glad  to  re 
trace  their  steps. 

It  was,  I  believe,  on  this  march  that  the  song  was  com 
posed  "by  a  soldier,  which  nearly  all  cavalry  men  know, 

F2 


130  History  of  the 

and  which  is  sung  to  the  tune  of"  Stable-call."     It  runs 
thus: 

"  Come  off  to  the  stables,  all  if  you  are  able, 

And  give  your  horses  some  oats  and  some  corn  ; 
For  if  you  don't  do  it  the  colonel  will  know  it, 
And  then  you  will  rue  h  as  sure's  you're  born.'' 

On  the  15th  of  July,  1853,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Nathan 
Boone,  of  the  2d  Dragoons,  resigned.  He  was  quite  old, 
having  served  as  a  captain  of  Eangers  during  the  War  of 
1812.  His  last  entrance  into  the  service  was  as  captain 
in  Dodge's  battalion  in  1832.  He  was  a  most  finished 
woodsman,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  he  had  any  superior  in 
that  respect  in  our  army.  The  paths  leading  out  on  the 
plains  of  the  Great  West  were  familiar  to  him,  and  he 
was  able  to  pilot  parties  in  any  direction.  He  was  a 
worthy  son  of  Daniel  Boone,  of  Kentucky.  Major  Philip 
St.  G.  Cooke  was  promoted  lieutenant  colonel,  and  Cap 
tain  Enoch  Steen,  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  major,  vice  Cooke. 

This  year  there  were  several  fights  of  considerable  im 
portance  with  the  Indians,  which  I  shall  write  of  in  the 
order  in  which  they  occurred.  I  had  failed  to  mention 
that  after  the  regiment  of  Mounted  Eifiemen  had  recruit 
ed  at  Jefferson  Barracks  in  1851,  it  was  sent  to  Texas, 
and  its  colonel,  Brevet  General  Persifer  F.  Smith,  was 
commanding  that  department. 

Before  commencing  the  detail  of  Indian  fights,  it  may 
be  well  to  state  that  Brevet  Major  Kipley  A.Arnold,  of 
the  2d  Dragoons,  was  killed  at  Fort  Graham,  Texas,  on 
the  6th  of  September,  1853,  by  Assistant  Surgeon  Steiner, 
United  States  Army.  A  private  quarrel  was  the  cause 
of  this  sad  occurrence. 


United  States  Cavalry.  131 

The  Indians,  as  before  mentioned,  had  become  very 
daring  in  their  depredations  in  Texas,  and  several  par 
ties  of  mounted  riflemen  were  sent  out  against  them  dar 
ing  the  month  of  May,  1854,  from  Fort  Merrill,  on  the 
Nueces  Eiver.  One  party,  supposed  to  have  been  com 
posed  of  Lipans  and  Seminoles,  crossed  into  Texas  from 
Mexico,  and  was  fallen  in  with  by  one  of  these  detach 
ments  of  rifles,  near  Lake  Trinidad,  about  forty  miles 
northwest  of  Corpus  Christi.  It  was  composed  of  Lieu 
tenant  George  B.  Cosby,  two  non-commissioned  officers, 
and  eighteen  men. 

The  Indians  numbered  about  forty.  After  a  most  gal 
lant  skirmish,  they  were  driven  off,  though  in  doing  so 
Cosby 's  command  was  scattered  and  somewhat  worsted. 
Lieutenant  Cosby  was  severely,  though  not  dangerously, 
wounded  in  the  sword-arm.  Shortly  afterward,  Lieuten 
ant  Eoger  Jones,  with  a  party,  appeared  and  continued 
the  pursuit. 

Second  Lieutenant  Jerome  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  junior, 
of  the  Mounted  Eifles,  also  joined  in  the  pursuit,  but  was 
unable  to  overtake  the  enemy.  General  Smith,  who  com 
manded  the  department  of  Texas,  and  whose  head-quar 
ters  were  at  that  time  at  Corpus  Christi,  says,  "  I  have  no 
terms  to  speak  my  sense  of  the  gallantry  and  coolness 
displayed  by  Lieutenant  Cosby  in  this  affair." 

Another  party,  under  command  of  First  Sergeant  C. 
II.  McjSTally,  with  First  Sergeants  John  Green  and  John 
Williams,  of  the  Eifles,  were  successful  in  a  scout  against 
the  Indians,  and  all  of  them  were  promoted  to  second 
lieutenancies  on  account  of  good  conduct.  Lieutenant 
Williams,  who  was  put  in  the  2d  Cavalry,  was  afterward 


132  History  of  the 

murdered  by  a  soldier  at  a  camp  on  Limpia  Creek,  Texas, 
June  30th,  1855. 

Another  scout  was  sent  out,  which  resulted  sadly.  I 
give  General  Smith's  account  of  it,  under  date  of  July 
15th,  1854,  from  Corpus  Christi.  He  says :  "  Preparatory 
to  moving  the  regiment  of  Mounted  Eiflemen  from  the 
Nueces  to  the  Eio  Grande,  in  conformity  with  the  in 
structions  of  the  "War  Department,  the  companies  were 
ordered  to  be  got  ready,  and  Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Koberts,  commanding  Fort  Ewell,  called  in  all  the  detach 
ments  from  that  post,  thus  uncovering  the  Kio  Grande 
from  Loredo  down.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Seawell,  at  King- 
gold  Barracks,  and  Colonel  Loomis,  at  Fort  Mclntosh, 
immediately  reported  that  small  parties  of  Indians  were 
crossing  the  river  at  various  places,  and  committing  rob 
beries  and  murders.  I  immediately  ordered  some  com 
panies  to  the  river  again,  and  directed  the  detachment 
from  Fort  Merrill,  that  had  been  withdrawn  from  Santa 
Gertrude's  (forty  miles  from  this)  on  account  of  the  men 
having  the  scurvy,  to  be  replaced  there;  but  at  three 
o'clock  A.M.  on  the  14th,  an  express  from  up  the  road 
informed  .me  that  the  Indians  had  killed  some  persons  at 
'  Proscenius,'  twenty -five  miles  north  of  Santa  Gertrude's. 
I  then  ordered  another  detachment  from  Fort  Merrill  to 
ward  the  former  place. 

"  In  the  mean  time,  on  the  4th  of  July,  Captain  Van 
Buren  took  up  the  trail,  and  followed  it  to  the  south 
ward  with  unsurpassed  diligence  and  under  great  diffi 
culties,  until,  on  the  llth,  in  the  evening,  he  met  them, 
about  thirteen  miles  from  '  Proscenius,'  toward  the  south 
west.  They  were  thirty,  and  he  had  thirteen  men  in  all. 


United  States  Cavalry.  133 

He  attacked  them  boldly,  and  the  Indians  at  first  stood 
their  ground.  Their  chief,  however,  was  killed,  and  his 
body  remained  in  Captain  Yan  Buren's  possession.  Four 
other  Indians  fell,  but  were  picked  up  by  their  compan 
ions.  Captain  Yan  Buren  was  badly  wounded  in  the 
arm,  but  dismounted  his  men  to  use  their  rifles  more  ef 
fectually.  He  soon  routed  the  Indians,  who  fled,  leaving 
some  horses,  many  lances  and  shields,  and  other  trophies ; 
but  I  regret  to  say  that  Captain  Yan  Buren  himself  was 
shot  through  the  body  with  an  arrow,  entering  just  above 
the  sword-belt,  and  coming  out  through  it  behind.  His 
wound  is  very  dangerous.  He  had  two  men  wounded, 
and  his  horse  shot  in  the  head.  In  this  situation  he 
could  not  pursue,  but  sent  a  corporal  and  two  men  to 
Fort  Ewell  for  a  surgeon  and  ambulance.  As  these  did 
not  arrive,  next  day  he  dispatched  two  other  men  to  meet 
and  bring  them  in ;  but  these  got  lost,  and,  finding  a  trail, 
followed  it  until  they  reached  Palo  Alto,  twenty -five 
miles  from  here.  From  this  place  they  came  here,  and  I 
immediately  dispatched  Second  Lieutenant  Koger  Jones, 
with  nine  riflemen  that  were  waiting  as  escort  for  my  de 
parture  for  El  Paso.  Dr.  McParlin,  who  was  here  also  to 
accompany  me,  went  with  them  with  an  ambulance." 

The  poor  captain  was  brought  into  Corpus  Christi,  and 
breathed  his  last  soon  afterward. 

General  Smith  visited  El  Paso  in  the  month  of  August 
and  September,  1854.  He  left  that  place  on  the  28th  of 
September.  On  the  1st  of  October  he  reached  Eagle 
Spring,  which  is  on  the  road.  About  fourteen  miles  from 
the  Rio  Grande  a  party  of  citizens  was  met  who  were 
driving  cattle,  who  reported  that  on  the  previous  day  the 


134  History  of  the 

Indians  had  robbed  them  of  sixty  or  one  hundred  cattle. 
Finding  the  trail,  General  Smith  sent  a  portion  of  his  es 
cort,  under  Captain  John  C.  Walker,  of  the  Eifles,  to 
overtake,  if  possible,  the  Indians,  and  recover  the  cattle 
before  they  could  cross  the  Eio  Grande.  In  the  night 
Walker  lost  the  main  trail,  though  accompanied  by  one 
of  the  best  guides  in  Texas,  Polycarpio  Koderiguez,  but 
next  morning  found  another,  which  was  evidently  lead 
ing  to  the  principal  haunts  of  the  Apaches  in  the  mount 
ains.  Walker  met  the  Indians,  and  General  Smith  says : 
"His  spirited  action  there  is  highly  to  his  credit  and  that 
of  his  command.  His  own  conduct  is  spoken  of  in  the 
highest  terms  by  all  present ;  and  his  clothes,  which  are 
cut  in  more  than  one  place  by  the  Indian  arrows,  bear 
testimony  of  his  having  been  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight. 

"  Lieutenant  Carr's  gallantry  before  he  was  wounded, 
and  his  coolness  afterward,  were  admired  by  all,  and  the 
whole  command  did  their  duty  in  the  most  praiseworthy 
manner.  Captain  Walker  lost  one  man  killed,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Eugene  A.  Carr  and  the  guide  wounded.  Several 
of  the  horses  were  wounded,  one  fatally,  but  it  was  brought 
off.  The  necessity  of  seeking  surgical  aid  for  Lieutenant 
Carr,  whose  wound  was  thought  dangerous,  if  not  fatal, 
put  an  end  to  farther  search  for  the  stolen  cattle,  which 
were  not  at  this  camp. 

"  The  chief  and  six  other  Indians  were  killed,  and  sev 
eral  wounded ;  but  as  these,  with  some  neighboring  bands 
of  the  same  tribe,  have  been  committing  constant  depre 
dations  on  this  road,  I  propose  to  send  up  some  of  the 
Texas  Volunteers  and  other  mounted  troops  to  drive 
them  out  of  the  county." 


United  States  Cavalry.  135 

In  New  Mexico  a  spirited  affair  took  place  on  the  5th 
of  March,  1854,  some  sixty  miles  from  Fort  Union,  be 
tween  the  Jicarilla  Apaches  and  a  detachment  of  the  2d 
Dragoons,  commanded  by  Second  Lieutenant  David  Bell. 
The  parties  were  about  equally  matched — twenty -four 
warriors  each — and  both  ready  to  measure  strength.  The 
result  of  the  conflict  was  that  the  Indians  lost  five  killed 
and  several  wounded,  and  the  dragoons  two  killed  and 
four  wounded.  The  Indians  fled  in  great  disorder  to  the 
canons  in  the  gorges  of  the  Canadian.  This  was  a  part 
of  the  band  which  captured  and  killed  Mrs.  White,  whose 
fate  was  most  revolting,  and  worse  than  death  itself.  To 
this  poor  lady  death  was  indeed  a  relief.  Lieutenant  Bell 
killed  the  chief,  Lobo,  with  his  own  hand,  and,  during  the 
whole  affair,  managed  it  with  great  discretion  and  gal 
lantry. 

During  the  same  month  the  Indians,  Jicarilla  Apaches 
and  Utahs,  managed  to  combine  a  force  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  warriors,  and  unexpectedly  attacked  a  company 
of  dragoons,  sixty  strong,  about  twenty-five  miles  from 
Fernandez  de  Taos,  under  command  of  Lieutenant  John 
W.  Davidson,  1st  Dragoons,  and  succeeded,  after  a  des 
perate  conflict,  in  overwhelming  it.  Lieutenant  David 
son  and  Assistant  Surgeon  Magruder,  both  wounded,  re 
turned  from  the  battle-field  with  about  seventeen  men, 
most  of  them  wounded. 

General  Garland,  commanding  the  Department  of  New 
Mexico,  pays  the  following  high  compliment  to  David 
son.  He  says :  "  The  troops  displayed  a  gallantry  seldom 
equaled  in  this  or  any  country,  and  the  officer  in  com 
mand,  Lieutenant  Davidson,  has  given  evidence  of  sol- 


136  History  of  the 

diership  in  the  highest  degree  creditable  to  him.  To 
have  sustained  a  deadly  contest  of  three  hours,  when  he 
was  so  greatly  outnumbered,  and  then  to  have  retired 
with  the  fragment  of  a  company  crippled  up,  is  amazing, 
and  calls  for  the  admiration  of  every  true  soldier." 

When  Lieutenant  Colonel  Cooke,  2d  Dragoons,  heard 
the  news  of  the  disaster  which  had  befallen  Lieutenant 
Davidson,  he  organized  a  force  of  about  two  hundred 
men,  and,  after  a  march  of  four  days,  overtook  the  In 
dians  on  the  upper  branches  of  the  Aguas  Calientes,  gave 
them  battle,  and  killed  six  of  them.  This  prompt  and 
energetic  action  on  the  part  of  Cooke  reflected  the  high 
est  credit  upon  him,  and  prevented  the  Utahs  from  mak 
ing  common  cause  with  the  Jicarilla  Apaches  against  the 
whites. 

Portions  of  Cooke's  command  followed  the  Indians  a 
long  distance,  and  broke  them  up  completely.  Major 
Blake  attacked  one  party,  Captain  Carleton  another,  and 
Lieutenant  Kandall  another.  All  did  well,  and  received 
the  thanks  of  the  general  commanding.  Kit  Carson,  the 
celebrated  guide  and  mountaineer,  accompanied  one  of 
these  parties  in  the  pursuit,  and  aided  very  much  by  his 
knowledge  of  woodcraft  and  the  habits  of  the  Indians. 
Carson  was  at  one  time  a  lieutenant  in  the  Mounted  Kifle 
regiment. 

It  is  necessary  to  state  here  that  Lieutenant  John  L. 
Grattan,  of  the  6th  Infantry,  and  twenty-nine  enlisted 
men  of  the  same  regiment,  were  massacred  by  the  Brule 
band  of  the  Sioux  nation,  near  Fort  Laramie,  on  the  19th 
of  August,  1854.  In  this  instance  the  Indians  were  the 
aggressors,  and  were  alone  to  blame.  In  retaliation  for 


United  States  Cavalry.  137 

this  massacre,  General  Harney  was  sent  out  against  them 
the  next  year,  an  account  of  which  will  be  given  in  proper 
order. 

The  first  fight  of  any  moment  which  occurred  during 
the  year  1855  was  that  of  Lieutenant  Samuel  D.  Sturgis, 
1st  Dragoons,  against  a  party  of  Mescalero  Apaches,  who 
had  been  committing  depredations  near  the  town  of  Ga- 
listeo,  in  New  Mexico.  This  was  on  the  13th  of  Janu 
ary.  Sturgis  and  his  dragoons  pursued  the  Indians  rap 
idly,  and  the  result  was  most  satisfactory.  One  hundred 
and  sixty  miles  were  accomplished  in  two  days  and  three 
hours;  the  Indians  overtaken  and  attacked,  and  three 
left  dead  on  the  field ;  four  others  were  badly  if  not  mor 
tally  wounded.  The  morning  of  the  fight  was  intensely 
cold — so  much  so  that  after  the  first  fire  the  men  had  to 
use  their  sabres,  their  fingers  being  too  stiff  to  load  read 
ily.  One  dragoon  was  killed  and  two  wounded. 

On  the  18th  of  January,  Captain  Ewell,  of  the  1st 
Dragoons,  had  a  fight  with  the  Mescalero  Apaches  on  a 
stream  called  the  Penasco,  which  rises  in  the  Guadelupe 
Mountains  and  empties  into  the  Pecos.  His  command 
consisted  of  one  hundred  and  ten  dragoons  and  fifty  in 
fantry.  During  the  whole  of  the  17th  the  march  of  the 
column  was  disputed  by  the  Indians,  they  coming  at 
times  under  cover  within  arrow-shot.  On  the  18th  the 
first  of  their  abandoned  camps  was  discovered,  and  the 
command  was  halted,  about  3  o'clock  P.M.,  for  the  night. 
Captain  Stanton,  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  was  directed  to  take 
his  company,  with  some  additional  men,  and  examine  a 
valley  to  the  right  where  there  were  some  abandoned 
lodges,  about  five  hundred  yards  distant,  and  endeavor 


138  History  of  the 

to  find  the  direction  taken  by  the  Indians  when  they 
left. 

This  officer,  after  reaching  the  place  designated,  charged 
after  some  Indians  he  saw  in  front,  and  in  following  up 
the  steep  hill-sides,  in  the  ardor  of  the  chase  became  sep 
arated  from  some  of  his  men,  badly  mounted,  which  were 
unable  to  join  when  he  sounded  the  rally.  After  rally 
ing  about  a  dozen  of  his  men,  he  proceeded  up  the  valley 
until  he  became  satisfied  that  the  Indians  had  not  re 
treated  in  that  direction,  and  he  started  back,  leading  his 
horses.  About  three*  fourths  of  a  mile  from  camp  the 
valley  narrowed,  with  trees,  and  here  he  was  ambushed 
and  fired  into,  the  first  fire  killing  one  of  his  men.  lie 
ordered  his  party  to  take  to  the  trees ;  but  the  Indians 
being  in  too  great  force,  he  mounted,  and  directed  his 
party  to  retreat,  remaining  in  the  rear  himself,  firing  his 
Sharp's  carbine,  when  he  received  a  shot  in  the  head,  and 
was  instantly  killed.  One  of  the  men  with  him  when  he 
first  charged  was  dismounted,  surrounded,  and  lanced 
after  killing  an  Indian. 

Ewell  sent  Lieutenant  Moore  to  the  assistance  of  Stan- 
ton,  and  upon  his  approach  the  Indians  dispersed.  They 
scattered  into  the  mountains,  and  the  guides  were  unable 
to  trail  them.  In  this  affair  the  Indians  retained  the  ad 
vantage. 

Colonel  Fauntleroy,  1st  Dragoons,  had  a  most  success 
ful  fight  with  the  Utahs,  about  twenty  miles  from  the 
Punche  Pass,  up  the  Arkansas  Eiver.  He  fell  suddenly 
upon  a  camp  of  twenty-six  lodges,  and  estimated  to  con 
tain  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  fighting  men.  He  made 
the  attack  at  daylight,  and,  after  a  fight  of  twenty-five 


United  States  Cavalry.  139 

minutes,  carried  the  camp,  killing  forty  and  wounding  a 
large  number  of  others.  Several  children  were  taken, 
with  a  herd  of  horses,  sheep,  and  goats.  This  was  on 
the  28th  day  of  April,  1855.  Colonel  Fauntleroy  had 
another  fight  with  them  on  the  1st  of  May,  and  again  de 
feated  them.  His  operations  were  very  successful,  and 
he  gained  much  credit. 


140  History  of  the 


CHAPTER  VII. 

The  First  and  Second  Regiments  of  Cavalry  ordered  to  be  raised,  1855. 
—Officers. — Colonel  E.  V.  Sumner. — Colonel  A.  S.Johnston. — Har- 
ney's  Indian  Fight  on  the  Blue  Water. — Distinctions  between  Heavy 
and  Light  Cavalry. — Arms  of  the  Dragoons,  Cavalry,  and  Mounted 
Riflemen. — Saddles. — Grooming. — Marching. — Riding. — Shoeing. 

A  MOST  important  piece  of  legislation  was  carried 
through  Congress  on  the  3d  of  March,  1855,  which  au 
thorized  the  raising  of  two  regiments  of  cavalry.  This 
was  an  unheard-of  thing  in  the  history  of  the  United 
States — the  raising  of  two  regular  mounted  regiments  at 
one  time — and  was  looked  upon  as  almost  a  miracle ;  but 
the  necessities  of  the  country  demanded  it,  and  our  law 
makers  wisely  acquiesced. 

The  annexation  of  Texas,  and  the  conquest  of  New 
Mexico  and  California,  had  increased  the  area  of  the  Ee- 
public  fully  one  third.  Much  of  this  was  in  a  wild  state, 
inhabited  by  predatory  bands  of  savages,  who  roamed 
from  near  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  far  beyond  the 
Eocky  Mountains,  and  from  the  boundary-line  of  British 
America  to  the  plains  which  border  on  the  Eio  Grande. 
Our  settlements  were  stretching  westward ;  the  families 
of  the  pioneers  needed  protection,  and  the  trains  of  emi 
grants  passing  from  east  to  west  had  to  be  escorted 
through  the  Indian  country,  which  for  centuries  had  been 
their  homes,  and  over  which  they  considered  the  white 
man  had  no  right  to  cross. 


United  States  Cavalry.  141 

Cavalry  was  the  only  force  that  could  combat  with  the 
Indians  of  the  plains,  as  they  themselves  are  reared  on 
horseback,  and  move  across  them  fleeter  than  the  wild 
deer.  The  raising  of  these  regiments  was  forced  upon  us 
by  the  circumstances  of  the  country,  and  I  think  no  one 
now  doubts  its  having  been  a  wise  measure.  In  the  se 
lection  of  officers  for  these  regiments  great  care  was  taken, 
and  many  meritorious  men  were  placed  in  them. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Edwin  Y.  Sumner,  of  the  1st  Dra 
goons,  was  made  colonel  of  the  1st  regiment  of  Cavalry. 
Sumner  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  and  entered  the  army 
as  second  lieutenant  in  the  2d  Infantry,  in  March,  1819. 
He  became  a  first  lieutenant  in  1823,  and  captain  in  the 
1st  Dragoons  in  March,  1833.  His  history  while  in  the 
Dragoons  has  already  been  given  in  the  pages  of  this 
work.  Sumner  was  a  capital  soldier.  He  was  thorough 
ly  devoted  to  his  profession,  and  manifested  it  in  almost 
every  action  and  gesture.  Upon  being  presented  to  Louis 
Napoleon,  while  he  was  on  a  visit  to  France,  the  emperor 
remarked  to  our  minister  that  he  saw  in  Sumner  a  fin 
ished  soldier,  and  one  who  had  evidently  spent  much  of 
his  life  in  camp. 

He  gave  great  attention  to  the  minutise  of  his  profes 
sion,  perhaps  too  much  so,  and  never  suffered  himself,  or 
those  under  his  command,  to  neglect  even  the  most  tri 
fling  duties.  But  he  is  gone — honorably  gone — and  mine 
is  not  the  pen  to  write  even  the  slightest  word  which  can 
be  construed  into  censure  of  that  most  noble  and  gallant 
soldier. 

Joseph  Eccleston  Johnston  was  selected  as  lieutenant 
colonel.  He  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  graduated  at 


142  History  of  the 

West  Point  in  1829 ;  he  served  in  the  4th  regiment  of 
Artillery  until  1837,  when  he  resigned.  In  1838  he  re- 
entered  the  service  as  first  lieutenant  in  the  Topograph 
ical  Engineers.  He  was  breveted  captain  for  gallantry  in 
'Florida,  and  attained  the  full  grade  in  1846.  In  1847  he 
was  made  lieutenant  colonel  in  the  Voltigeurs,  one  of  the 
"Ten  Begiments,"  and  was  severely  wounded  at  the  bat 
tle  of  Cerro  Gordo.  lie  was  distinguished  at  Molino  del 
Eey,  and  at  Chapultepec,  in  which  battle  he  was  again 
wounded.  At  the  close  of  the  war  his  regiment  was  dis 
banded,  but  he  was  retained  as  captain  in  the  Topograph 
ical  Engineers.  Joe  Johnston  was  considered  a  good  of 
ficer,  and  for  some  years  after  the  close  of  the  Mexican 
War  was  engaged  in  making  roads  and  examining  routes 
across  the  plains  of  the  far  Southwest. 

Ben  McCulloch,  of  Texas,  was  made  a  major;  but  he, 
thinking  it  was  not  sufficiently  high  for  him,  declined  the 
appointment.  Ben  had  proved  himself  a  good  partisan 
officer  in  Texas  and  Mexico,  but  he  did  not  make  a  good 
general.  I  was  with  McCulloch  in  New  York  City  in 
1858,  when  on  one  occasion  he  visited  a  fortune-teller. 
His  fate  was  then  clearly  told  to  him,  as  the  witch,  wiz 
ard,  or  impostor,  whatever  he  might  be,  told  him  that  he 
would  die  by  a  bullet  on  the  battle-field.  I  know  this  to 
be  truth. 

Captain  William  H.  Emory,  also  of  the  Topographical 
Engineers,  was  promoted  major.  He  had  served  in  the 
army  since  1837,  engaged  in  making  surveys,  etc.  He 
was  with  Kearney  at  San  Pascual,  and  had  served  as  lieu 
tenant  colonel  of  the  Maryland  and  District  of  Columbia 
Volunteers  during  a  portion  of  the  Mexican  War. 


United  Stales  Cavalry.  143 

John  Sedgwick,  of  Connecticut,  was  the  other  major. 
He  graduated  at  West  Point  in  1837,  and  was  made  a 
second  lieutenant  in  the  2d  Artillery,  in  which  regiment 
he  continued  to  serve  until  his  promotion.  He  was  made 
a  brevet  captain  for  gallantry  at  Contreras  and  Churubus- 
co,  and  brevet  major  for  Chapultepec,  and  was  also  dis 
tinguished  in  the  attack  on  San  Cosme  Gate.  He  became 
a  captain  of  Artillery  in  January,  1849.  Sedgwick  was 
considered,  and  proved  himself  to  be,  a  very  superior  offi 
cer,  and  gave  his  life  for  his  country  on  the  9th  of  May, 
1864,  in  Virginia.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  col 
onel  of  the  4th  United  States  Cavalry  and  major  general 
of  Volunteers. 

Deles  B.  Sacket,  a  first  lieutenant  in  the  1st  Dragoons, 
was  made  senior  captain  in  this  regiment.  He  was  a 
New  Yorker  by  birth,  had  graduated  at  West  Point,  and 
was  a  skillful  cavalry  officer.  He  had  served  as  Instruct 
or  of  Cavalry  at  the  Military  Academy,  and  had  perfected 
himself  in  the  details  of  the  mounted  service.  Robert  S. 
Garnett  had  been  appointed  senior  captain  of  the  cavalry, 
but  was  promoted  to  a  majority  in  the  9th  Infantry,  and 
never  served  with  the  regiment. 

First  Lieutenant  Thomas  J.  Wood,  of  the  2d  Dra 
goons,  was  made  the  next  captain  in  rank.  He  was  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  had  graduated  at  West  Point,  and 
had  served  with  credit  at  Palo  Alto  and  Buena  Vista,  as 
before  narrated. 

Captain  George  B.  McClellan,  of  Pennsylvania,  gradu 
ated  at  West  Point  in  1846,  and  entered  the  Engineers  as 
second  lieutenant  He  was  breveted  first  lieutenant  for 
his  gallant  conduct  at  Contreras  and  Churubusco,  and 


144  History  of  the 

brevet  captain  for  gallantry  at  Cbapultepec.  He  served 
with  the  company  of  Sappers  and  Miners,  and  at  the 
close  of  the  war  was  placed  in  command  of  it.  After  his 
appointment  as  captain  of  cavalry,  he  visited  Europe  for 
the  purpose  of  making  observations  in  reference  'to  the 
different  organizations  of  the  cavalry  in  the  armies  of 
Europe.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  McClellan  had  not 
himself  had  more  experience  in  the  cavalry  before  going 
there ;  but  as  it  is,  his  work  was  of  some  benefit  to  our 
service,  and  contains  some  information  of  value.  He  re 
signed  in  January,  1857,  and  was  engaged  in  civil  pur 
suits  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  when,  after 
a  series  of  rapid  promotions,  he  became  major  general 
and  commander-in-chief  of  the  United  States  Army.  He 
is  a  good  soldier,  and  many  think  he  has  no  superior  in 
this  country.  In  the  army,  while  he  was  a  captain,  he 
was  considered  one  of  its  brightest  ornaments. 

Samuel  D.  Sturgis,  the  next  captain,  was  also  from 
Pennsylvania,  and  after  graduating  at  West  Point,  enter 
ed  the  2d  Dragoons,  was  transferred  to  the  1st  regiment, 
and  had  proved  himself  an  active  and  zealous  officer. 

Captain  "William  D.  De  Saussure,  of  South  Carolina, 
was  appointed  from  civil  life.  He  had  been  a  captain  in 
the  South  Carolina  Kegiment  of  Volunteers  during  the 
Mexican  War,  and  had  distinguished  himself  at  Churu- 
busco  (where  he  was  wounded),  and  at  the  De  Belen  Gate. 
He  was  a  good  soldier. 

Captain  William  S.  Walker,  of  Mississippi,  was  also 
appointed  from  civil  life.  He  had  been  a  first  lieutenant 
in  the  Yoltigeur  Eegiment  in  Mexico,  and  was  breveted 
captain  for  gallantry  at  Chapultepec. 


United  States  Cavalry.  145 

Captain  Edward  W.  B.  Newley,  of  Illinois,  had  served 
in  the  war  with  Mexico  as  colonel  of  the  5th  regiment 
of  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  was  stationed  for  some  time 
at  Santa  Fe,  New-  Mexico. 

Captain  George  J.  Anderson,  from  Georgia,  was  next. 
He  had  served  through  the  Mexican  War  creditably  as 
lieutenant  in  Loyall's  Company  of  Georgia  Cavalry,  and 
captured  Colonel  La  Yega  and  Major  Iturbide  (a  son  of 
the  ex-Emperor  Iturbide,  of  Mexico)  at  the  battle  of 
Huamantla.  He  did  not  remain  long  in  the  regiment. 

Captain  John  T.  Coffee,  of  Missouri,  had  been  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Legislature  of  that  state.  He  was  not  a  mili 
tary  man,  and  "could  not  see  the  necessity  of  drilling 
men."  He  remained  in  service  but  a  short  time.  Dur 
ing  the  rebellion  he  has  gained  a  most  unenviable  repu 
tation  as  chief  of  "  Coffee's  Guerrillas." 

Among  the  lieutenants  appointed  in  this  regiment  were 
"William  N.  K.  Beall,  of  Arkansas,  who  shortly  became  a 
captain,  and  is  now  a  Confederate  general;  George  H. 
Stewart,  also  a  Confederate  general ;  Mclntosh,  Eugene 

A.  Carr,  United  States  brigadier  general  of  Volunteers  ; 
Eansom,  Bell,  Perkins,  Iverson,  Wheaton ;  Stanley,  major 
general  United  States  Volunteers ;  Stockton ;  James  E. 

B.  Stuart,  the  famous  Confederate  raider  ;  Otis,  Mclntyre, 
Crittenden,  Riddick,  Church,  and  Colburn.     Ingraham, 
Long,  Bayard,  Lomax,  Taylor,  and  Fish,  joined  it  after 
ward. 

In  the  2d  regiment  of  Cavalry,  Colonel  Albert  Sidney 
Johnston  was  appointed.  He  was  a  most  brave  and 
skillful  soldier,  though  his  last  days  were  tarnished  by 
a  treason  which  covered  like  a  pall  his  many  virtues. 

G 


146  History  of  the 

Johnston  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  after  graduating 
at  West  Point,  became  adjutant  in  the  infantry.  While 
stationed  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  Jefferson  Davis,  who  was 
then  a  lieutenant  of  dragoons,  was  stationed  there.  On 
account  of  some  detail  which  was  made  by  Johnston, 
Davis  became  very  angry,  and  challenged  him ;  the  chal 
lenge  was  accepted,  and  it  was  only  through  the  media 
tion  of  Lieutenant  Alexander  that  a  duel  between  them 
was  prevented.  They  were  ever  after  the  warmest  per 
sonal  friends.  He  resigned  and  went  to  Texas,  where  he 
offered  his  services  to  that  republic.  They  were  accept 
ed,  and  he  passed  through  the  various  grades  of  brigadier 
general,  commander-in-chief,  and  secretary  of  war.  On 
account  of  some  misunderstanding  with  Felix  Houston 
in  regard  to  the  command  of  the  army,  a  duel  was  fought 
by  them,  in  which  Johnston  was  severely  wounded,  and 
ever  afterward  walked  a  little  lame.  He  became  a  plant 
er  in  Texas,  but  upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  Mexican 
War  he  was  chosen  colonel  of  a  Texas  infantry  regiment, 
and  served  some  time.  The  regiment  was  disbanded,  and 
he  continued  to  serve  on  the  staff  of  Major  General  Wil 
liam  O.  Butler  as  acting  inspector  general.  While  thus 
serving  he  participated  in  the  battle  of  Monterey,  and 
shortly  after  was  appointed  paymaster  in  the  regular 
army,  with  the  rank  of  major.  In  1855  he  was  appoint 
ed  colonel  of  the  2d  Cavalry,  and  although  afterward 
breveted  brigadier  general  for  his  services  in  Utah,  was 
in  fact  the  head  of  the  regiment  when  the  rebellion  broke 
out,  and  when  he  resigned.  He  was  killed  while  in  com 
mand  of  the  Confederate  army  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh. 
General  Johnston  was  a  very  gentlemanly  and  kind  man 


United  States  Cavalry.  147 

in  the  private  walks  of  life,  though  he  had  been  for  years 
a  secessionist  at  heart  He,  like  most  soldiers,  was  an  in 
different  speaker,  though  a  chaste  and  fluent  writer.  He 
had  a  fine  military  presence  and  carriage,  with  the  most 
gentle  and  winning  manners. 

Eobert  E.  Lee,  the  lieutenant  colonel  of  this  regiment, 
and  since  commander-in-chief  of  the  rebel  army,  a  son 
of  "  Light-horse  Harry  Lee"  of  the  Eevolution,  was  born 
in  Virginia,  and  graduated  at  the  West  Point  Military 
Academy.  He  was  first  in  the  Engineers,  and  gained  a 
fine  reputation  during  the  Mexican  War,  at  the  close  of 
which,  although  but  a  captain,  he  had  the  brevet  rank  of 
colonel.  For  some  years  he  was  superintendent  at  West 
Point,  and  held  that  position  when  he  was  promoted  lieu 
tenant  colonel  of  the  2d  Cavalry.  He  served  some  time 
with  the  regiment  in  Texas,  and  for  a  time  had  command 
of  that  department.  Lee  was  not  a  secessionist  at  heart, 
and  deplored  the  sad  state  of  things  brought  about  by 
the  then  approaching  attempted  dissolution  of  the  Union. 
In  a  letter  to  me  shortly  after  the  Presidential  election  in 
1860,  in  referring  to  it,  he  says,  "I  fear  the  liberties  of 
our  country  will  be  buried  in  the  tomb  of  a  great  nation." 
His  heart  was  sore  over  disunion,  but  this  strong  man 
gave  way  before  the  tempter,  and  he,  too,  took  the  fatal 
step  which  led  to  the  abodes  of  darkness.  Lee  was  a  re 
fined  American  gentleman,  courteous  and  affable  in  his 
deportment,  and  kindly  in  his  feelings.  His  personal  ap 
pearance  was  striking,  and  impressed  one  with  the  idea 
that  he  was  a  great  soldier,  which  he  proved  himself  to 
be.  He  was  wounded  at  Chapultepec. 

Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel  William  J.  Hardee  was  pro- 


148  History  of  the 

moted  major  from  a  captaincy  in  the  2d  Dragoons.  He 
got  his  brevets  at  two  mere  skirmishes,  those  of  Medelin 
and  at  San  Augustine,  as  has  been  shown  heretofore.  He 
was  born  in  Georgia,  and,  having  graduated  at  West 
Point,  entered  the  2d  Dragoons  at  the  time  when  Twiggs 
was  colonel.  Twiggs  was  also  a  Georgian,  and,  of  course, 
Hardee  was  a  pet,  and  a  worthy  one  he  was,  too,  of  that 
notorious  officer.  Hardee's  principal  military  exploit  dur 
ing  the  Mexican  "War  was  his  being  taken  prisoner  at  the 
ranche  on  the  Eio  Grande.  He  is  known  as  the  author 
of  "Hardee's  Tactics,"  so  called,  which  were  mainly  a 
translation  from  the  French  made  by  some  junior  officers 
for  Hardee's  glory,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  he  knew  as 
little  about  them  as  almost  any  one  else.  His  career  in 
the  regiment  was  unmarked  by  a  single  thing  which 
could  go  to  show  that  he  was  any  thing  more  than  a  vain 
and  conceited  martinet,  who  had  been  pushed  forward  to 
the  manifest  injustice  of  braver  and  better  men.  He  was 
a  man  of  mediocre  talent,  joined  to  sobriety,  and  an  in 
dustry  carried  on  at  the  expense  of  others.  He  is  now  a 
lieutenant  general  among  the  rebels,  and  seems  to  suit 
their  style  admirably. 

Major  George  H.  Thomas,  formerly  of  the  Artillery, 
was  breveted  for  gallantry  in  Florida,  at  Monterey,  and 
at  Buena  Yista.  He  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  graduated 
at  West  Point  in  1840.  Major  Thomas  is  one  of  the  best 
of  men,  and  has  proved  himself,  as  a  soldier,  to  be  made 
of  the  most  unyielding  material.  His  conduct  as  a  ma 
jor  general  at  the  battles  of  Mill  Spring  and  at  Chicka- 
mauga  is  beyond  all  praise,  and  is  what  all  who  knew 
him  believed  of  him.  In  danger  he  is  cool  and  self-pos- 


United  Slates  Cavalry.  149 

sessed  to  a  remarkable  degree,  and  has  a  mind  which  is 
never  led  astray.  He  was  wounded  in  Texas  while  lead 
ing  his  cavalry  against  the  Indians.  Thomas  was  be 
loved  by  every  honest  man  in  the  regiment,  and  I  have 
since  had  the  pleasure  of  serving  under  his  command  at 
the  siege  of  Atlanta  and  at  Nashville. 

The  next  in  rank  was  Captain  and  Brevet  Major  Earl 
Yan  Dorn.  This  man's  career  astonished  friends  as  well 
as  foes.  He  was  considered  at  one  time  as  being  the 
very  embodiment  of  all  that  was  chivalrous,  brave,  kind, 
and  gentle,  but.  the  curse  of  secession  swept  like  a  sirocco 
.over  his  breast  and  withered  every  manly  principle.  Yan 
Dorn  was  a  failure.  His  domestic  life  was  unhappy,  and 
he  fell  most  in  gloriously.  He  was  born  in  Mississippi, 
and  graduated  at  "West  Point,  and,  though  never  consid 
ered  a  man  of  profound  wisdom,  his  personal  courage  was 
undoubted,  as  was  shown  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  in 
two  of  the  most  successful  Indian  fights  with  the  Ca- 
manches  in  the  Witchita  Mountains  which  have  occur 
red  in  the  history  of  our  country.  In  one  of  these  fights 
he  was  seriously  wounded.  Yan  Dorn  was  one  of  Da- 
vfs's  especial  pets,  and  joined  secession  with  a  zeal  and 
heartiness  worthy  of  a  better  cause.  He  subsequently 
became  a  rebel  general,  and  his  whole  course  was  a  series 
of  remarkable  failures.  His  death  was  a  most  disgrace 
ful  one,  but  was  a  fitting  close  to  his  traitorous  and  un 
fortunate  career. 

The  other  captains  were  Edmund  Kirby  Smith,  a  Flo- 
ridian  by  birth,  and  a  graduate  of  West  Point.  In  the 
Mexican  War  he  won  distinction  as  a  lieutenant,  and  on 
that  account  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy  in  the  2d  Cav- 


150  History  of  the 

airy.  He  was  wounded  by  the  Indians  in  Texas.  He 
joined  the  rebels,  though  with  reluctance,  his  family 
(mother  and  sisters)  having  had  the  miserable  satisfaction 
of  forcing  him  out,  when  his  own  good  judgment  revolt 
ed  against  it.  At  the  battle  of  Bull  Kun  he  was  severely 
wounded.  Smith  was  a  kind-hearted  man,  and  a  man  of 
sound  judgment  and  much  intelligence.  He  has  risen  to 
the  grade  of  lieutenant  general  among  the  Confederates, 
and  commands  the  trans-Mississippi  country. 

Captain  James  Oakes  was  from  Pennsylvania,  and  a 
graduate  of  West  Point.  He  was  a  man  of  most  determ 
ined  purpose ;  had  served  with  distinction  in  the  2d  Dra 
goons  in  Mexico ;  and,  as  before  related,  was  wounded 
by  the  Indians  in  Texas.  On  account  of  this  wound  he 
was  obliged  to  decline  the  brigadier  general's  commission 
tendered  him  by  the  President. 

Captain  Innis  N.  Palmer,  of  the  Mounted  Kifies,  was 
next.  He  was  from  New  York ;  had  graduated  at  West 
Point;  had  been  breveted  captain  for  his  services  in 
Mexico,  and  had  been  wounded  at  Chapultepec.  He 
was  made  a  brigadier  general  of  Volunteers  during  the 
rebellion. 

George  Stoneman,  of  New  York,  was  promoted  from 
a  first  lieutenancy  in  the  1st  Dragoons.  He  had  served 
for  several  years  in  California,  and  had  established  a  good 
reputation  as  an  officer.  He  graduated  at  West  Point  in 
1846,  and  had  done  much  service  on  the  frontiers.  He 
has  since  risen  to  the  position  of  a  major  general  of  Vol 
unteers,  and  chief  of  the  Cavalry  Bureau. 

Theodore  O'Hara  and  Charles  E.  Travis  were  original 
ly  appointed  in  the  regiment  from  citizen  life,  but  served 


United  States  Cavalry.  151 

in  it  only  a  short  time.  The  former  was  from  Kentucky ; 
had  been  an  assistant  quartermaster  and  brevet  major  in 
Mexico,  and  was  severely  wounded  in  Lopez's  Cuban  Ex 
pedition,  being  an  intense  filibuster.  He  served  as  Sid 
ney  Johnston's  aid-de-camp  at  Shiloh.  Travis  was  the 
only  son  of  Colonel  Travis,  the  hero  of  the  Alamo,  and 
died  in  1860.  He  had  resided  for  several  years  in  Tex 
as,  and  the  summer  before  had  commanded  a  company 
of  Texas  Eangers  on  the  frontier. 

Captain  William  K.  Bradfute,  of  Tennessee,  had  served 
in  a  Tennessee  regiment  in  the  Mexican  War  as  a  cap 
tain.  At  the  battle  of  Monterey  he  did  very  well.  At 
the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  he  joined  the  rebel 
cause,  and  was  advanced  to  a  field  office. 

Captain  Albert  Or.  Brackett  was  born  in  New  York, 
and  appointed  from  Indiana.  He  had  served  as  first 
lieutenant  in  an  Indiana  regiment  of  Volunteers  during 
the  Mexican  War,  and  was  at  the  fights  of  Huamantla 
and  Atlixco.  During  the  rebellion  he  became  colonel  of 
a  regiment  of  volunteer  cavalry,  and  was  severely  wound 
ed  by  the  rebels  in  Arkansas. 

Captain  Charles  J.  Whiting,  of  California,  was  born  in 
Massachusetts.  He  graduated  at  West  Point  in  1835 ; 
served  some  time  in  the  artillery  in  Florida ;  resigned, 
and  was  afterward  surveyor  general  of  California.  He 
is  now  out  of  service. 

Captain  Eichard  W.Johnson,  of  Kentucky,  also  a  West 
Point  man,  is  now  a  brigadier  general  of  Volunteers.  He 
was  considered  a  good  officer  in  Texas,  and  has  proved 
himself  so  during  the  rebellion. 

Captain  Nathan  G.  Evans,  of  South  Carolina,  graduated 


152  History  of  the 

at  West  Point  in  July,  1848.  He  did  well  in  Texas,  but 
was  always  a  red-hot  fire-eater.  Of  course  he  joined  the 
rebels.  He  fought  us  at  Bull's  Kun  and  Ball's  Bluff. 
Evans  had  many  good  traits  of  character,  but  he  was  too 
intensely  Dixiefied  to  be  at  all  times  agreeable. 

Among  the  lieutenants  were  McArthur,  Charles  W. 
Field,  a  rebel  general,  Garrard,  now  a 'Union  general, 
Jenifer,  Eoyall,  Chambliss,  Lowe,  John  B.Hood,  the  reb 
el  commander-in-chief  in  Georgia,  Witherell,  Minter,  Phi- 
fer,  and  Van  Camp.  Afterward  Lieutenants  Harrison, 
Porter,  Owens,  Major,  Fitzhugh  Lee,  the  rebel  cavalry 
general,  and  Kimmel,  joined,  as  will  be  seen. 

The  first  regiment  was  organized  during  the  summer 
of  1855,  at  Fort  Leaven  worth,  and  the  second  at  Jefferson 
Barracks.  While  these  regiments  were  being  organized, 
our  other  mounted  men  were  working  in  the  field.  In 
the  month  of  August,  Lieutenant  Horace  Kandall,  of  the 
1st  Dragoons,  had  a  fight  with  the  Indians,  and  acquitted 
himself  very  creditably.  It  took  place  in  the  gorges  of 
the  mountains  near  the  Eio  Grande.  The  prompt  and 
well-devised  plans  of  the  lieutenant  met  with  perfect  suc 
cess.  But  by  far  the  most  important  Indian  fight  which 
occurred  this  year  was  that  fought  by  General  Harney, 
colonel  of  the  2d  Dragoons,  against  the  Sioux  Indians. 
I  give  his  report  entire  of  this  action. 

Writing  to  the  adjutant  general  from  his  camp  on  Blue 
Water  Creek,  1ST.  T.,  under  date  of  September,  1855,  he 
says : 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  report,  for  the  information  of  the 
general-in-chief,  that,  on  my  arrival  at  Ash  Hollow,  on 
the  evening  of  the  2d  instant,  I  ascertained  that  a  large 


United  States  Cavalry.  153 

portion  of  the  Brule  band  of  the  Sioux  nation,  under 
'•Little  Thunder ,'  was  encamped  on  Blue  Water  Creek 
(Mee-na-to-wah-pah),  about  six  miles  northwest  of  Ash 
Hollow,  and  four  from  the  left  bank  of  the  North  Platte. 

"  Having  no  doubt,  from  the  information  I  had  re 
ceived  from  the  people  of  the  country  I  had  previously 
met  on  the  road,  and  from  the  guides  accompanying  me, 
of  the  real  character  and  hostile  intentions  of  the  party 
in  question,  I  at  once  commenced  preparations  for  attack 
ing  it.  I  ordered  Lieutenant  Colonel  P.  St.  George  Cooke, 
2d  Dragoons,  with  companies  *  E'  and  *  K',  of  the  same 
regiment,  light  company l  G,'  4th  Artillery,  and  company 
'  E,'  10th  Infantry,  all  mounted,  to  move  at  three  o'clock 
A.M.  on  the  3d  instant,  and  secure  a  position  which  would 
cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  Indians  to  the  Sand  Buttes,  the 
reputed  strong-hold  of  theTBrules. 

"  This  movement  was  executed  in  a  most  faultless  and 
successful  manner,  not  having  apparently  attracted  the 
notice  or  excited  the  suspicion  of  the  enemy  up  to  the 
very  moment  of  the  encounter. 

"At  half  past  four  o'clock  A.M.  I  left  my  camp,  with 
companies  'A,'  « E,' '  H,'  '  I,'  and  '  K,'  6th  Infantry,  under 
the  immediate  command  of  Major  Cady,  of  that  regiment, 
and  proceeded  toward  the  principal  village  of  the  Brules, 
with  a  view  to  attacking  it  openty,  in  concert  with  the 
surprise  contemplated  through  the  cavalry.  But,  before 
reaching  it,  the  lodges  were  struck,  and  their  occupants 
commenced  a  rapid  retreat  up  the  valley  of  the  Blue 
Water,  precisely  in  the  direction  from  whence  I  expected 
the  mounted  troops.  They  halted  short  of  these,  how 
ever,  and  a  parley  ensued  between  their  chief  and  my- 

G2 


154  History  of  the 

self,  in  which  I  stated  the  causes  of  the  dissatisfaction 
which  the  government  felt  toward  the  Brules,  and  closed 
the  interview  by  telling  him  that  his  people  had  depre 
dated  upon  and  insulted  our  citizens  while  moving  qui 
etly  through  our  country ;  that  they  had  massacred  our 
troops  under  most  aggravated  circumstances,  and  that 
now  the  day  of  retribution  had  come ;  that  I  did  not  wish 
to  harm  him  personally,  as  he  professed  to  be  a  friend  of 
the  whites,  but  that  he  must  either  deliver  up  the  young 
men  whom  he  acknowledged  he  could  not  control,  or 
they  must  suffer  the  consequences  of  their  past  miscon 
duct,  and  take  the  chances  of  a  battle.  Not  being  able, 
of  course,  however  willing  he  might  have  been,  to  deliver 
up  all  the  butchers  of  our  people,  *  Little  Thunder1  return 
ed  to  his  band  to  warn  them  of  my  decision,  and  to  pre 
pare  them  for  the  contest  that  must  follow. 

"Immediately  after  his  disappearance  from  my  view 
I  ordered  the  infantry  to  advance,  the  leading  company 
(Captain  Todd's)  as  skirmishers,  supported  by  company 
(H,'  6th  Infantry  (under  Lieutenant  McCleary),  the  re 
maining  companies  of  the  6th  being  held  in  hand  for  ul 
terior  movements.  The  skirmishers,  under  Captain  Todd, 
opened  their  fire,  crowned  the  bluffs  on  the  right  bank 
of  the  stream  (where  the  Indians  had  taken  up  their  last 
position)  in  a  very  spirited  and  gallant  manner,  driving 
the  savages  therefrom  into  the  snare  laid  for  them  by 
the  cavalry,  which  last  troops  burst  upon  them  so  sud 
denly  and  so  unexpectedly  as  to  cause  them  to  cross,  in 
stead  of  ascending  the  valley  of  the  Blue  Water,  and  seek 
an  escape  by  the  only  avenue  now  open  to  them  through 
the  bluffs  of  the  left  bank  of  that  stream.  But,  although 


United  States  Cavalry.  155 

they  availed  themselves  of  this  outlet  for  escape  from 
complete  capture,  they  did  not  do  so  without  serious  mol 
estation,  for  the  infantry  not  only  took  them  in  flank 
with  their  long-range  rifles,  but  the  cavalry  made  a  most 
spirited  charge  upon  their  opposite  or  left  flank  and  rear, 
pursuing  them  for  five  or  six  miles  over  a  very  rugged 
country,  killing  a  large  number  of  them,  and  completely 
dispersing  the  whole  party.  This  brilliant  charge  of  cav 
alry  was  supported,  as  far  as  practicable,  by  the  whole 
body  of  the  infantry,  who  were  eager  from  the  first  for 
a  fray  with  the  butchers  of  their  comrades  of  Lieu 
tenant  Grattan's  party.  The  results  of  this  affair  were 
eighty-six  killed,  five  wounded,  about  seventy  women 
and  children  captured,  fifty  mules  and  ponies  taken,  be 
sides  an  indefinite  number  killed  and  disabled.  The 
amount  of  provisions  and  camp  equipage  must  have  com 
prised  nearly  all  the  enemy  possessed,  for  teams  have 
been  constantly  engaged  in  bringing  into  camp  every 
thing  of  any  value  to  the  troops,  and  much  has  been  de 
stroyed  on  the  ground. 

"  The  casualties  of  the  command  amount  to  four  killed, 
four  severely  wounded,  three  slightly  wounded,  and  one 
missing,  supposed  to  be  killed  or  captured  by  the  enemy. 
I  inclose  herewith  a  list  of  the  above,  and  also  field  re 
turns,  exhibiting  the  strength  of  the  troops  engaged  in 
the  combat. 

"With  regard  to  the  officers  and  troops  of  my  com 
mand,  I  have  never  seen  a  finer  military  spirit  displayed 
generally ;  and  if  there  has  been  any  material  difference 
in  the  services  they  have  rendered,  it  must  be  measured 
chiefly  by  the  opportunities  they  had  for  distinction. 


156  History  of  the 

"Lieutenant  Colonel  Cooke  and  Major  Cady,  the  com 
manders  of  the  mounted  and  foot  forces,  respectively  car 
ried  out  my  instructions  to  them  with  signal  alacrity, 
zeal,  and  intelligence. 

"  The  company  commanders,  whose  position,  either  -in 
the  engagement  or  in  the  pursuit,  brought  them  in  closest 
contact  with  the  enemy,  were  Captain  Todd,  of  the  6th 
Infantry,  Captain  Steele  and  Lieutenant  Kobertson,  of 
the  2d  Dragoons,  and  Captain  Heth,  10th  Infantry.  Cap 
tain  Howe  and  his  company  (c  Gr,'  4th  Artillery)  partici 
pated  largely  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  engagement,  but, 
for  reasons  stated  in  his  commanding  officer's  report,  he 
took  no  active  part  in  the  pursuit.  Brevet  Major  Woods, 
Captain  Wharton,  and  Lieutenant  Patterson,  of  the  6th 
Infantry,  with  their  companies,  rendered  effective  serv 
ice  as  reserves  and  supports,  taking  an  active  share  in 
the  combat  when  circumstances  would  permit.  Colonel 
Cooke  notices  the  conduct  of  Lieutenants  John  Buford 
and  Thomas  J.  Wright,  regimental  quartermaster  and  ad 
jutant  of  the  2d  Dragoons,  in  a  flattering  manner.  Lieu 
tenants  Drum,  Hudson,  and  Mendenhall,  4th  Artillery ; 
Lieutenants  Hight  and  Livingston,  2d  Dragoons,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Dudley,  10th  Infantry,  gave  efficient  aid  to  their 
company  commanders. 

"I  should  do  injustice  to  Mr.  Joseph  Tesson,  one  of  my 
guides,  were  I  to  omit  a  mention  of  his  eminently  valua 
ble  services  in  conducting  the  column  of  cavalry  to  its 
position  in  the  rear  of  the  Indian  villages.  To  his  skill 
as  a  guide,  and  his  knowledge  of  the  character  and  hab 
its  of  the  enemy,  I  ascribe  much  of  the  success  gained  in 
the  engagement. 


United  States  Cavalry.  157 

"  Mr.  Carrey,  also,  chief  of  the  guides,  rendered  good 
service  in  transmitting  my  orders. 

"  The  members  of  my  personal  staff  rendered  me  most 
efficient  service  in  the  field.  Major  O.F.  Winship,  assist 
ant  adjutant  general  and  chief  of  the  staff,  and  Lieuten 
ant  Polk,  2d  Infantry,  my  aid-de-camp,  in  conveying  my 
orders  to  different  portions  of  the  command,  discharged 
their  duties  with  coolness,  zeal,  and  energy.  Assistant 
Surgeon  Eidgeley,  of  the  medical  staff,  was  indefatigable 
in  his  attentions  to  the  suffering  wounded,  both  of  our 
own  troops  and  of  the  enemy.  Lieutenant  Warren,  topo 
graphical  engineer,  was  most  actively  engaged,  previous 
to  and  during  the  combat,  reconnoitring  the  country  and 
the  enemy,  and  has  subsequently  made  a  sketch  of  the 
former,  which  I  inclose  herewith. 

"  Captain  Van  Vliet,  assistant  quartermaster,  was 
charged  with  the  protection  of  the  train — a  service  for 
which  his  experience  on  the  plains  rendered  him  emi 
nently  qualified.  Lieutenant  Balch,  of  the  Ordnance,  was 
also  left  in  charge  of  the  stores  of  his  department. 

"I  inclose  herewith  several  papers  found  in  the  bag 
gage  of  the  Indians,  some  of  which  are  curiosities,  and 
others  may  serve  to  show  their  disposition  toward  the 
whites.  They  were  mostly  taken,  as  their  dates  and 
marks  will  indicate,  on  the  occasion  of  the  massacre  and 
plunder  of  the  mail  party  in  November  last. 

"  There  are  also  in  the  possession  of  officers  and  oth 
ers  in  camp  the  scalps  of  two  white  females,  and  rem 
nants  of  the  clothing,  etc.,  carried  off  by  the  Indians  in 
the  Grattan  massacre ;  all  of  which,  in  my  judgment,  suf 
ficiently  characterize  the  people  I  have  had  to  deal  with." 


158  History  of  the 

By  this  action  of  General  Harney's  this  tribe  was  dis 
persed. 

Before  proceeding  farther  with  the  history  of  our  cav 
alry,  it  will  be  well  to  examine  the  different  organizations 
of  our  own  army,  and  explain  to  non-professional  readers 
and  beginners  the  difference  between  the  regiments.  We 
had  now  in  the  army  (1855)  dragoons,  mounted  riflemen, 
and  cavalry.  These  names  sound  differently,  and  no 
doubt  there  were  formerly  nice  shades  of  distinction; 
but,  with  us,  that  between  dragoons  and  cavalry  was  only 
in  name. 

All  cavalry  in  the  United  States  service  is  light  caval 
ry.  Now  the  question  will  be  asked  what  is  the  distinc 
tion  between  the  light  and  heavy  cavalry  and  the  dra 
goons. 

Heavy  cavalry  in  the  European  armies  consists  of 
large  men  in  defensive  armor,  mounted  on  heavy,  power 
ful  horses.  The  power  of  this  arm  lies  in  the  strength 
and  breeding  of  the  horses,  and  the  courage  and  activity 
of  the  riders.  The  men  wear  helmets  and  cuirasses,  and 
heavy  equipments.  The  helmet  is  a  piece  of  defensive 
armor  or  covering  for  the  head,  worn  by  nearly  all  of  the 
cavalry  regiments  in  Europe,  and  has  been  found,  after 
ages  of  use,  to  be  the  only  proper  head-covering  for  a 
mounted  man.  Our  own  big,  unwieldy  uniform  felt  hat 
is  nothing  more  or  less  than  ridiculous,  and  our  forage 
cap  is  little  better. 

The  helmets  worn  by  the  soldiers  of  olden  times  were 
some  of  them  models  of  beauty,  strength,  and  grace.  The 
helmet  of  the  Romans  was  a  head-piece  of  iron  or  brass, 
which  descended  behind  as  far  as  the  shoulders,  and  left 


United  States  Cavalry.  159 

the  face  uncovered.  Upon  the  top  was  the  crest,  in 
adorning  which  the  soldiers  took  great  pride.  The  usu 
al  ornament  was  horse-hair  or  feathers  of  divers  colors. 
The  helmets  of  the  officers  were  sometimes  very  splen 
did,  being  adorned  with  gold  and  silver.  A  dragon  was 
used  as  the  crest  of  the  helmet  by  the  mounted  soldiers 
in  the  Middle  Ages,  hence  the  name  dragoon. 

The  cuirass  is  another  piece  of  defensive  armor,  made 
of  plate  well  hammered,  serving  to  cover  the  body  from 
neck  to  waist  both  before  and  behind,  called  breast  and 
back  plate.  The  Cuirassiers  of  the  armies  of  Europe 
wear  the  cuirass.  The  helmets  worn  by  the  Kussian  sol 
diers  are  both  serviceable  and  beautiful. 

The  heavy  cavalry,  then,  consists  of  heavy  men  and 
heavy  horses,  who  are  used  upon  occasion  to  hurl  down 
upon  the  enemy,  and  by  their  weight  alone  overpower 
them.  It  is  questionable  whether  they  are  of  much  serv 
ice,  and  no  doubt  we  are  as  well  off  without  them.  They 
are  incapable  of  doing  the  same  duty  that  is  required  of 
the  light  cavalry,  as  even  short  marches  break  down  both 
men  and  horses.  They  are  more  formidable  in  appear 
ance  than  in  reality. 

Dragoons  are  next  to  be  considered.  They  were  orig 
inally  organized  to  act  either  as  cavalry  or  infantry 
skirmishers — a  sort  of  hybrid  corps  to  do  duty  on  foot  or 
on  horseback ;  now  they  are  simply  a  body  of  regular 
cavalry  soldiers,  in  some  countries  divided  into  heavy 
and  light  dragoons. 

All  of  the  cavalry  which  has  been  organized  in  the 
United  States  is  properly  designated  as  light  cavalry. 
The  laws  of  Congress  made  two  regiments  of  dragoons, 


160  History  of  the 

one  of  mounted  riflemen,  and  two  of  cavalry.  It  was  no 
doubt  intended  to  make  the  dragoons  and  cavalry  all 
one  arm,  but  a  fault  in  the  law,  which  was  subsequently 
remedied,  made  it  otherwise,  and  Jefferson  Davis,  who 
was  Secretary  of  War,  took  advantage  of  it,  and  made  two 
arms,  thereby  securing  promotion  for  his  favorites  in  the 
cavalry  arm  without  reference  to  the  dragoons.  Army 
men  will  readily  understand  this  distinction. 

During  the  Mexican  War  the  dragoons  were  armed 
with  musketoons,  which  were  carried  on  sling-belts  ex 
cept  when  marching,  dragoon  sabres  of  the  Prussian  pat 
tern,  and  horse-pistols.  This  was  unchanged  for  several 
years  afterward.  The  Mounted  Eifles  were  armed  with 
percussion  rifles  and  Colt's  army  revolvers — no  sabres. 
The  revolvers  were  supplied  to  all  cavalry  men  as  soon 
as  was  convenient.  The  cavalry  regiments  were  armed 
with  sabres,-  rifle  -  carbines,  and  Colt's  navy  revolvers. 
Why  they  were  not  armed  with  army  revolvers  no  per 
son  could  ever  give  a  good  reason.  The  sabre  in  Indian 
fighting  is  simply  a  nuisance ;  they  jingle  abominably, 
and  are  of  no  earthly  use.  If  a  soldier  gets  close  enough 
on  an  Indian  to  use" a  sabre,  it  is  about  an  even  thing  as 
to  which  goes  under  first. 

The  trimming  of  the  dragoon  jackets  after  the  close  of 
the  Mexican  War  was  orange,  and  that  of  the  Kifles  green. 
The  cavalry  had,  and  still  have,  yellow.  The  dragoons 
and  Eifles  exulted  in  what  was  known  as  the  "  Albert 
hat,"  with  orange  and  green  pompons.  The  cavalry  got 
— God  knows  where — the  "cavalry  hat,"  familiar  to  the 
atre-goers  as  that  worn  by  Fra  Diavolo.  If  the  whole 
earth  had  been  ransacked,  it  is  difficult  to  tell  where  a 


United  States  Cavalry.  161 

s* 

more  ungainly  piece  of  furniture  could  have  been  found. 
It  is  now  used  by  the  whole  army,  being  somewhat  more 
unwieldy  than  the  original  pattern.  It  seems  to  me  that 
soldiers  take  delight  in  seeing  into  what  ludicrous  shapes 
they  can  get  these  hats,  with  a  tassel  hanging  in  front,  on 
one  side,  or  behind,  and  a  black  ostrich  feather,  which, 
after  one  or  two  wettings,  has  a  most  bedraggled  and 
wilted  appearance.  The  forage  cap  is  a  poor  imitation 
%.f  the  French  kepis,  and  seems  with  us  to  run  mostly  to 
visor.  The  old-fashioned  dragoon  cap  was  both  graceful 
and  soldierly. 

The  saddle  used  in  the  cavalry  now  is  that  known  as 
the  McClellan  saddle,  which  was  patented  after  his  visit 
to  Europe  by  General  McClellan.  The  soldiers  like  it,  as 
it  is  easy  to  ride  on,  and  does  not  give  a  horse  a  sore 
back  unless  carelessly  used.  Men  who  ride  saddles  are 
generally  the  best  judges  of  them,  though  heads  of  de 
partment  sometimes  think  differently.  It  is  fair,  then,  to 
say  that  the  saddle,  if  it  had  a  breast-strap,  is  a  good  one, 
as  it  has  the  verdict  of  the  men  in  its  favor.  I  do  not 
like  the  bridle  so  well.  The  bit  is  ordinarily  too  power 
ful  for  the  horse ;  it  is  made  of  poor  steel,  and  the  curb- 
chain  is  apt  to  straighten  out  upon  pulling  the  reins. 
This  could,  no  doubt,  be  remedied.  I  think,  however,  a 
decided  improvement  could  be  made  in  the  choice  of 
bits. 

The  swiftest  horses  are  not  always  the  best  in  cavalry. 
If  all  were  equally  fast,  it  would  be  very  well ;  but,  in 
making  a  charge  upon  any  given  point,  a  few  horses  will 
always  come  out  ahead,  and  leave  their  companions  far 
in  the  rear.  Officers  who  insist  upon  their  men  pre- 


162  History  of  the 

serving  their  lines  in  a  charge,  insist  upon  an  impossi 
bility. 

Another  subject  has  impressed  itself  strongly  upon  my 
mind,  which  is  the  fact  that,  in  our  regular  service,  the 
horses  are  groomed  too  much.  I  can  not  say  that  this  ap 
plies  to  the  Volunteers.  In  my  own  experience,  the  fault 
with  them  lies  the  other  way.  What  I  mean  is  this,  that 
in  winter  time,  when  the  weather  is  cold,  and  the  horses, 
as  is  almost  always  the  case  with  us,  are  without  suitable 
shelter,  the  grooming  the  horse  one  hour  at  daybreak, 
and  one  hour  just  before  sunset,  is  absolutely  hurtful. 
Some  cavalry  officers,  who  have  been  taught  certain  rules, 
insist  upon  the  men  keeping  at  work  steadily  one  hour 
on  each  horse,  without  any  regard  to  time,  place,  circum 
stances,  or  any  thing  else.  Now,  in  the  fine  stables 
which  the  military  of  France  and  Great  Britain  have,  it 
may  do  well  to  keep  the  horses  looking  sleek-coated,  giv 
ing  them  each  day  gentle  exercise;  but  with  us,  who 
have  our  poor  animals  trembling  the  great  part  of  the 
winter  from  sheer  cold,  it  is  worse  than  nonsense  to  tear 
up  their  hides  each  day  by  means  of  the  curry-comb  and 
brush.  The  pores  are  left  open,  the  skin  is  scratched, 
and  the  wretched  animal  stands  crouched  up  all  night, 
suffering  from  the  effects  of  this  well-meant,  but  ill-ad 
ministered  grooming.  The  condition  of  our  poor  horses 
sometimes  in  winter  is  such  as  to  make  any  heart  sus 
ceptible  of  pity  feel  the  most  profound  sorrow.  But  this 
I  do  not  find  fault  with ;  in  actual  campaign  both  men 
and  horses  must  suffer,  but  do  not  let  us  cavalry  people 
make  our  only  friends — our  horses — suffer  unnecessarily. 
British  and  French  officers  may  think  this  singular  ad- 


United  States  Cavalry.  163 

vice,  but  they  must  recollect  that  their  cavalry  force  is 
small  compared  with  ours,  and  they  have  every  conven 
ience  to  make  themselves  and  their  horses  comfortable 
— good  stables,  plenty  of  forage,  and  nice  roads  to  travel 
upon. 

About  marching,  too,  a  few  lines  may  not  be  amiss. 
In  starting  out  after  feeding,  let  the  horses  walk  about 
one  hour,  when  a  halt  of  fifteen  minutes  ought  to  be 
sounded.  Let  the  men  close  up,  and  then  dismount. 
This  eases  the  horse,  gives  him  a  chance  to  breathe  a 
short  time,  and  makes  him  feel  better.  When  ready  to 
start,  tighten  up  the  girths,  which  will  be  found  to  have 
slackened  up,  one  or  two  holes.  Do  not  let  the  saddle  be 
loose  on  the  back ;  it  should  sit  snug ;  but,  at  the  same 
time,  caution  all  soldiers  not  to  draw  too  tightly,  as  I 
have  seen  some  dreadful  sores  made  on  horses'  sides  by 
the  ring  and  strap  which  is  used  on  the  McClellan  sad 
dle,  and  which  is  borrowed  from  the  Mexicans. 

About  riding  I  have  to  say  that  soldiers  must  learn  to 
ride  themselves,  and  time  alone  will  make  good  riders. 
Some  men  never  do  know  how  to  ride,  and  never  learn. 
The  sooner  they  are  got  rid  of  the  better.  Great,  beefy 
creatures  some  of  them  are,  who  have  no  more  elasticity 
than  a  dead  animal,  and  who  worry  and  fret  their  poor 
horses  almost  to  madness.  Our  men  are  generally  (I 
mean  the  Americans)  natural  riders,  and  soon  become 
good  horsemen.  They  quickly  learn  how  to  take  care 
of  horses.  This  is  particularly  the  case  where  the  men 
become  attached  to  their  animals,  and  make  pets  of  them. 
I  have  known  many  a  soldier  to  sit  up  half  the  night  in 
order  to  get  a  chance  to  steal  a  feed  for  his  horse.  This 


164  History  of  the 

venial  offense  is  forgiven  generally  by  the  officers.     The 
quartermasters  are  the  sufferers,  but  they  always  manage   . 
some  way  or  other  to  keep  even. 

As  to  riders,  the  United  States  Cavalry,  under  the  old 
system,  had  few  superiors.  The  English,  as  a  general 
thing,  are  most  wretched  riders,  and  it  is  no  wonder  that 
they  are  almost  universally  whipped  whenever  they  go 
into  battle.  The  "bumping"  up  and  down  on  their  sad 
dles  is  not  only  excruciating  to  themselves,  but  ruinous 
to  their  unfortunate  animals.  Nolan,  in  his  work  on 
Cavalry,  speaks  in  the  most  disparaging  terms  of  the  En 
glish  cavalry,  as  does  Lieutenant  General  Sir  Charles 
James  Napier;  and  no  doubt  justly  so,  as  it  is  hard  to 
imagine  a  more  helpless  body  of  men  than  they  are. 
Poor  Nolan  himself  lost  his  life  while  charging  at  Bala- 
klava,  where  the  English  horse  was  entirely  cut  to  pieces 
by  the  Eussians. 

After  a  hard  day's  march,  or,  indeed,  any  march  in  hot 
weather,  upon  halting,  the  saddles  should  be  removed, 
the  saddle-blanket  turned  and  left  on  the  horse,  strapped 
on  by  the  surcingle.  This  will  prevent  saddle -boils. 
After  the  saddle  is  removed,  nearly  every  horse  wishes 
to  roll.  He  should  be  allowed  to  do  so,  the  man  keeping 
hold  of  the  halter-strap  or  lariat  while  he  is  rolling.  Or 
dinary  marches  for  cavalry  should  not  exceed  eighteen 
miles  a  day.  The  horses  should  be  watered  once  or  twice 
on  the  march,  if  it  is  convenient,  and  should  be  allowed 
to  drink  as  much  water  as  they  want,  provided  they  are 
moved  on  after  drinking,  but  on  no  account  should  they, 
after  marching  some  distance,  be  allowed  to  drink  and 
cool.  If  this  is  permitted,  in  nine  cases  out  often  the  an- 


United  Slates  Cavalry.  '  165 

imals  will  be  foundered.  Officers  should  be  continually 
on  their  guard  watching  recruits  in  this  respect,  as  by  its 
neglect  many  a  fine  animal  has  been  ruined.  In  cold 
weather  care  should  be  taken  to  see  that  the  horses  are 
well  blanketed  during  the  night,  and,  if  necessary,  men 
should  be  detailed  to  keep  the  blankets  on,  as  horses  are 
apt  to  rub  or  kick  them  off.  No  man  can  be  a  good  cav 
alry  officer  unless  he  is  continually  on  the  alert  looking 
out  for  the  welfare  of  his  horses.  Cavalry  soldiers  gen 
erally  do  well  enough  for  themselves,  but  cavalry  horses 
must  be  looked  after. 

A  march  of  a  thousand  miles  is  a  better  school  for  a 
recruit  than  all  of  the  riding-halls  ever  built,  and  United 
States  soldiers  are  often  sent  across  the  continent  of  North 
America  merely  as  part  of  a  summer  campaign. 

Horses'  shoes  should  be  inspected  frequently,  as,  in  spite 
of  every  care,  shoes  are  sometimes  left  on  too  long,  and 
sometimes  they  are  knocked  off,  and  the  horse,  on  a  rocky 
road,  becomes  lame  at  once.  The  Indians  never  shoe 
their  horses ;  the  hoofs  of  their  animals  become  as  hard 
nearly  as  flint  They  go  over  the  rockiest  roads  with 
our  cavalry  chasing  them,  and  as  soon  as  the  shoes  of  our 
horses  are  torn  off  by  the  rocks  they  become  disabled, 
and  the  Indians  laugh  at  our  efforts  to  overtake  them. 

The  shoeing  tools  of  the  farrier  should  consist  of  a 
shoeing  knife,  a  toe  knife,  a  shoeing  hammer,  a  clinching 
iron,  a  clinch-cutter,  a  pair  of  pincers,  and  a  rasp.  What 
is  known  as  a  buttress  should  never  be  used,  nor  ought 
a  shoe  to  be  put  on  while  hot,  any  more  than  is  sufficient 
to  show  that  it  is  of  the  right  shape.  When  starting  on 
a  march  each  horse  ought  to  have  two  shoes  at  least  fit- 


166  History  of  the 

ted,  so  that  the  farrier  will  have  nothing  to  do  but  nail 
them  on  in  case  any  are  lost  while  traveling.  Altogether 
too  little  attention  is  paid  to  shoeing  by  cavalry  officers. 
Whatever  relates  to  the  care  and  training  of  his  horses 
is  a  part  of  his  profession,  and  the  smallest  matter  ought 
not  to  be  neglected. 

A  good  rider  will  always  make  a  good  raider. 

As  to  the  equipment,  there  is  no  doubt  but  there  is 
now  too  much  weight  on  the  waist-belt.  The  sabre  hangs 
on  it,  also  the  cartridge-box,  with  twenty  or  forty  rounds 
in  it,  and  the  revolver.  This  is  altogether  too  much,  and 
breaks  many  a  man  down,  causing  diseases  of  various 
kinds,  which  are  ruinous  to  cavalry  men.  Some  system 
of  shoulder-belts  ought  to  be  devised  to  lighten  up  the 
strain  which  now  bears  with  so  much  weight  and  such  ill 
effects  upon  a  particular  part  of  the  body. 

Our  sabres  are  never  really  sharp,  and  good  officers 
think  there  is  no  way  of  keeping  them  so  as  long  as  we 
continue  to  use  the  steel  scabbard ;  but  the  question  is, 
what  are  we  going  to  get  to  replace  it  with  ?  Nolan  says 
the  sabres  used  by  the  East  India  native  cavalry  are  con 
demned  English  sword-blades,  sharpened  to  the  keenest 
edge,  and  kept  in  wooden  scabbards.  They  are  never 
drawn  except  in  action,  where,  according  to  his  account, 
they  do  dreadful  execution. 

Our  revolvers,  of  Colt's  pattern,  can  not  at  present  be 
much  improved  upon. 

Sharp's  carbines  are  the  favorite  cavalry  carbines, 
though  upon  this  subject  there  is  a  diversity  of  opinion, 
each  commander  having  some  pet  arm  which  he  thinks 
superior  to  any  other.  Our  cavalry  men  ought  to  have 


United  States  Cavalry.  167 

good  carbines,  as  our  general  officers  employ  them  in 
every  conceivable  way ;  and  it  is  really  surprising  how 
much,  and  how  many  different  kinds  of  work  they  are 
called  upon  to  perform.  Some  of  our  sapient  political 
brigadier  generals  can  use  up  a  cavalry  regiment  with  a 
rapidity  truly  astonishing,  and  their  ignorance  is  only  ex 
ceeded  by  their  conceit.  In  our  rebellion,  in  many  in 
stances,  the  less  a  man  knew  about  military  matters  the 
better  officer  he  was  supposed  to  be. 

"Within  the  last  eighteen  months  there  has  been  a  de 
cided  improvement  in  the  carbines  and  accoutrements 
which  have  been  issued  to  the  cavalry.  It  is  now  con 
ceded  that  the  Spencer  carbine,  or  rifle,  is,  by  all  odds, 
the  best  shooting  weapon  ever  issued  to  mounted  men ; 
and  the  cartridge  -  box  invented  by  Colonel  Erastus 
Blakeslee,  late  of  the  1st  regiment  of  Connecticut  Caval 
ry,  leaves  but  little  to  be  desired.  This  cartridge-box  is 
carried  by  a  belt  over  the  right  shoulder,  thus  relieving 
the  strain  on  the  abdomen.  "With  it  seven  cartridges  are 
loaded  as  quickly  as  one  by  the  ordinary  method,  and  it 
is  more  easily  carried  than  any  box  in  use. 


168  History  of  the 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  First  Cavalry  in  Kansas. — March  of  the  Second  Cavalry  to  Texas. — 
Skirmishes  with  the  Indians  of  Texas. — Skirmishes  in  Oregon  and  New 
Mexico. — Indian  Fights. — Captain  Gibbs  wounded. — Lieutenant  B. 
F.  Davis  wounded. — Lieutenant  John  B.  Hood's  Fight  with  the  Ca- 
manches. — Colonel  Sumner's  Fight  with  the  Chcyenues. — Mormon 
Troubles. — Sufferings  of  the  Cavalry. — Close  of  the  Mormon  Difficul 
ties. 

THE  1st  regiment  of  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  Sumner, 
was  organized,  as  before  stated,  at  Fort  Leavenworth, 
Kansas,  in  1855,  and  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  made  an 
expedition  out  on  the  plains  without  any  important  re 
sults.  The  regiment  wintered  at  Leavenworth,  and  sub 
sequently  took  part  in  the  Kansas  difficulties,  as  did  the 
2d  Dragoons.  This  service  was  most  distasteful  to  our 
officers,  who  were  not  politicans ;  but  in  every  instance, 
I  believe,  they  acquitted  themselves  creditably  in  trying 
to  settle  discordant  factions,  and  earned  the  respect  of  all 
good  men. 

Upon  the  promotion  of  Sumner,  Benjamin  L.  Beall  be 
came  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  and  Charles 
A.  May  major.  May  subsequently  exchanged  with  Steen, 
and  thus  got  back  into  his  old  regiment,  the  2d  Dragoons. 
Major  Winslow  F.  Sanderson,  of  the  Mounted  Rifles,  died 
at  G-alveston  on  the  16th  of  September,  1853,  when  Cap 
tain  John  S.  Simonson  was  promoted  major. 

On  the  27th  of  October,  1855,  the  2d  Cavalry  left  Jef- 


United  States  Cavalry.  169 

ferson  Barracks  for  Texas,  under  command  of  Colonel 
Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  the  whole  ten  companies  being 
together,  and  numbering  in  all  over  seven  hundred  and 
fifty  men,  and  eight  hundred  horses.  The  route  lay 
through  Missouri,  in  a  southwesterly  direction,  across  va 
rious  streams,  and  over  the  Ozark  Mountains.  The  reg 
iment  passed  through  Springfield  and  Neosho,  down  the 
boundary -line  of  Missouri  to  Maysville,  in  Arkansas,  and 
thence  off  southwest  again  into  the  Indian  Territory. 
The  Cherokee  country  was  first  visited,  where  the  land 
scapes  were  indeed  most  beautiful.  Wide,  undulating 
prairies  were  seen,  with  groves  of  timber  of  the  most  mag 
nificent  proportions,  and  the  blue  outlines  of  the  mount 
ains  far  away  in  the  distance.  The  streams  of  water  were 
pure  and  sweet.  In  the  latter  part  of  November  the  reg 
iment  reached  Talequah,  the  capital  of  the  Cherokee  na 
tion.  Many  houses  in  this  place  are  well  built.  The 
Cherokees  number  some  twenty  thousand,  and  many  of 
them  have  turned  their  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
Some  of  the  farms  were  in  the  highest  degree  creditable. 
From  Talequah  the  regiment  marched  to  Fort  Gibson. 
Crossing  the  Neosho  and  Kansas  Eivers,  the  land  of  the 
Creek  Indians  was  reached,  and  many  a  grim  old  warrior 
watched  its  course  as  it  passed  along  on  its  journey.  The 
sight  of  the  regiment  was  most  imposing  as  it  moved 
along  over  the  hills  and  through  the  valleys.  Each  day 
gangs  of  wolves  were  seen  trotting  along  parallel  with 
the  column,  and  herds  of  deer  galloped  off  on  the  right 
and  left. 

On  the  4th  of  December  the  regiment  crossed  the  north 
fork  of  the  Canadian  River,  and  shortly  after  encamped 

H 


170  History  of  the 

near  the  Indian  village  of  Mico,  where  there  were  some 
Florida  Seminoles.  The  next  day  it  forded  the  Cana 
dian,  which  is  skirted  by  some  elegant  timber.  This  was 
in  the  Creek  nation.  These  Indians  number  about  six 
teen  thousand.  On  the  7th  of  December  the  regiment 
encamped  near  a  Choctaw  village.  These  Indians  num 
ber  some  twenty-seven  thousand.  Their  land  joins  that 
of  the  Chickasaws,  who  numbered  some  five  thousand 
five  hundred.  After  crossing  two  wretched  streams,  call 
ed  the  Middle  Boggy  and  the  Boggy,  the  regiment  reach 
ed  Fort  Washita  on  the  12th  of  December,  and  on  the 
14th  crossed  Red  Eiver  into  Texas.  The  course  of  the 
troops  was  down  through  the  "  Upper  Cross  Timbers," 
which  is  a  belt  of  woods  composed  of  small  oak  and  mes- 
quit  trees.  The  mesquit  is  the  best  wood  for  making 
fires  of  any  in  the  world,  and  during  the  severe  cold 
which  prevailed  was  of  great  use.  The  "  northers"  were 
several  of  them  very  severe,  and  quite  a  number  of  horses 
and  men  lost  their  lives  in  consequence  of  being  frost 
bitten.  Droves  of  antelope  were  seen  along  the  route, 
and  buffalo  bones  were  strewed  here  and  there.  On  one 
occasion  one  of  the  men  killed  a  cougar,  or  South  Amer 
ican  lion,  of  quite  formidable  dimensions.  The  largest 
of  these  animals  in  Texas  are  in  the  jungles,  near  the 
southern  Rio  Grande,  where  they  are  called  "leones,"  or 
lions,  by  the  people. 

After  stopping  a  short  time  at  Fort  Belknap,  four  com 
panies  were  sent  down  to  the  clear  fork  of  the  Brazos, 
some  thirty  miles  distant,  under  Brevet  Lieutenant  Col 
onel  Hardee,  where  there  was  a  Camanche  Indian  reser 
vation  ;  and  the  other  six,  under  Colonel  Johnston,  march- 


United  States  Cavalry.  171 

ed  to  Fort  Mason,  on  the  Llano  River,  or  Eiver  of  the 
Plains. 

Captain  Oakes,  of  this  regiment,  had  a  skirmish  with 
the  Indians  in  February  on  the  Concho  Kiver,  and  Cap 
tain  Brackett,  of  the  same  regiment,  another  on  the  12th 
of  March,  1856,  on  the  Guadelupe.  They  were  both 
minor  affairs,  but  had  a  good  effect  in  improving  the  men 
in  riding  and  in  soldiership. 

In  March,  April,  May,  and  June,  1856,  the  troops  in 
Oregon  had  a  number  of  severe  conflicts  in  the  mount 
ains  and  valleys  near  Rogue  River,  in  which  they  con 
ducted  themselves  admirably,  compelling  the  Indians  to 
surrender,  and  terminating  the  war  in  Southern  Oregon. 
Captain  Andrew  J.  Smith's  company,  C,  1st  Dragoons, 
particularly  distinguished  itself,  and  lost  eleven  men  kill 
ed  and  eighteen  wounded. 

In  April,  1856,  a  detachment  of  dragoons,  under  First 
Lieutenant  Isaiah  N.  Moore,  1st  Dragoons,  had  a  skirmish 
with  a  band  of  Gila  Apaches,  near  the  Almaigre  Mount 
ains,  in  New  Mexico.  In  the  same  month,  some  detach 
ments  of  Rifles  had  a  fight  with  a  party  of  Lipans  near 
the  head  of  the  Nueces  River,  Texas.  The'soldiers,  under 
Captains  Claiborne  and  Granger,  of  the  Rifles,  greatly  ex 
ceeding  the  Indians  in  number,  of  course  defeated  them. 

Captain  Oakes,  of  the  2d  Cavalry,  with  a  part  of  his 
company,  had  a  skirmish  on  the  Concho  in  May,  1856, 
and  again  on  the  Pecos  in  September.  The  losses  to  the 
Indians  and  our  own  troops  were  small,  though  the  re 
sults  to  the  frontier  settlers  were  no  doubt  beneficial. 

In  August  Captain  George  H.  Stewart,  of  the  1st  Cav- 
ulry,  with  Lieutenants  Wheaton  and  Mclntyre,  of  the 


172  History  of  the 

same,  and  a  detachment  of  cavalry  men,  routed  a  party 
of  Cheyenne  Indians  near  Fort  Kearney,  who  had  attack 
ed  a  mail  party.  Several  of  the  Indians  were  killed  and 
wounded. 

Captain  Bradfute,  with  a  part  of  his  company  of  the  2d 
Cavalry,  fought  and  defeated  a  party  of  Camanches  on 
the  Concho  Eiver  in  November,  1856.  In  the  same 
month,  Second  Lieutenant  Horace  Eandall,  1st  Dragoons, 
followed  and  dispersed  a  party  of  Gila  Apaches. 

In  December,  Lieutenants  Witherell  and  Owens,  of  the 
2d  Cavalry,  with  a  detachment  of  men  of  that  regiment, 
defeated  a  party  of  Indians  near  the  Eio  Grande,  and 
drove  them  across  into  Mexico.  Captain  Johnson,  with 
Lieutenant  Porter  and  twenty-five  men  of  his  company, 
of  the  2d  Cavalry,  had  a  severe  skirmish  with  the  In 
dians  near  the  head  of  the  main  Concho.  In  this  sharp 
conflict  Johnson  lost  four  of  his  men.  Thus  it  will  be 
seen  that,  although  this  was  considered  peaceful  times,  the 
cavalry  soldiers  had  a  fair  share  of  work,  and  that  work 
quite  dangerous. 

During  the  summer  of  1856  the  regiment  of  Mounted 
Eiflemen  was  sent  from  Texas  to  New  Mexico,  leaving 
the  2d  Cavalry  to  guard  Texas.  The  2d  Dragoons  and 
1st  Cavalry  were  in  the  Department  of  the  West.  Of  the 
1st  Dragoons  four  companies  were  near  Tucson,  New 
Mexico,  and  the  rest  in  California  and  Oregon. 

During  the  year  1857  our  cavalry  had  several  very 
severe  skirmishes  with  the  savages.  It  is  hardly  worth 
while  to  recount  every  one,  as  they  were  some  of  them 
of  very  little  importance.  Lieutenant  Wood,  with  a  par 
ty  of  the  2d  Cavalry,  had  a  skirmish  with  the  Indians  on 


United  States  Cavalry.  178 

the  Concho,  in  Texas,  on  the  13th  of  February,  1857.  On 
the  same  day  Sergeant  McDonald,  of  the  same  regiment, 
had  another  near  Camp  Verde.  In  April,  Lieutenant 
Jenifer  had  a  fight  with  a  party  of  Indians,  his  own  force 
of  the  2d  Cavalry  being  worsted  by  the  superior  num 
ber  of  the  enemy.  Jenifer  retired  without  loss. 

Lieutenant  Baker,  of  the  Eifles,  fought  and  defeated  a 
party  of  Indians  near  the  Ojo  del  Muerto,  in  New  Mexico, 
on  the  llth  of  March,  1857.  Captain  Alfred  Gibbs  com 
manded  a  detachment  of  the  same  regiment,  and  was 
highly  distinguished  and  severely  wounded  in  a  fight 
with  the  Mimbres  Apaches  in  the  same  month. 

Four  companies  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  and  three  of  the 
Mounted  Eifles,  in  New  Mexico,  did  good  service  against 
the  Indians  on  an  expedition  from  the  depot  on  the  Gila 
Eiver.  A  band  of  Coyotero  and  Mogollon  Apaches  were 
signally  defeated  through  the  arrangements  of  Colonel 
Bonneville,  commanding.  This  took  place  in  June,  1857. 

The  cavalry  officers  who  were  distinguished  in  this  af 
fair  were  Captain  Eichard  S.  Ewell,  Lieutenants  Isaiah  N. 
Moore,  Alfred  B.  Chapman,  and  Benjamin  F.  Davis,  of 
the  1st  Dragoons,  tfre  latter  of  whom  was  wounded;  and 
Captain  Thomas  Claiborne  and  Lieutenant  John  Y.  D. 
Dubois,  of  the  Mounted  Eifles. 

In  August,  Captain  Charles  J.  Whiting,  of  the  2d  Cav 
alry,  with  his  company,  followed  and  defeated  a  party  of 
Indians  in  Texas,  who  had  robbed  a  mail  party.  Ser 
geant  Charles  M.  Patrick,  of  company  I,  2d  Cavalry,  also 
had  a  fight,  and  defeated  the  Indians  on  the  28th  of  Sep 
tember. 

But  the  two  fights  of  this  year  which  were  most  im- 


174  History  of  the 

portant  were  those  fought  by  Lieutenant  Hood  and  Col 
onel  Sumner. 

Lieutenant  John  B.  Hood  (now  lieutenant  general  in 
the  rebel  army),  with  twenty -five  men  of  company  Gr,  2d 
Cavalry,  left  Fort  Mason,  Texas,  on  the  5th  of  July,  and 
marched  for  the  head  of  the  Concho.  Near  the  mouth 
of  Kiowa  Creek  he  found  a  trail,  which  he  followed  un 
til  he  came  to  a  water-hole,  near  the  head  of  Devil's  Kiv- 
er.  Here  he  hurried  on,  though  his  horses  were  very 
much  wearied,  and  trailed  over  the  bluffs  and  mountains 
down  the  river,  but  keeping  some  three  miles  from  it. 
Late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  20th  of  July  he  left  the  trail, 
and  went  in  toward  the  river  to  get  water,  as  his  men 
were  very  thirsty.  About  a  mile  from  the  trail,  and  two 
miles  and  a  half  from  his  party,  on  a  ridge  he  discovered 
some  horses  and  a  large  flag  waving.  The  orders  in 
Texas  at  that  time  were  to  attack  any  Indians  found 
away  from  the  government  reservations.  He  crossed 
over  to  the  ridge  without  going  to  the  water,  and  cau 
tioned  his  men  not  to  fire  until  he  ordered  it ;  his  fight 
ing  force  being  seventeen  men,  the  rest  being  with  the 
pack-mules.  He  was  ready  to  fight  or  talk.  Hood's  men 
advanced,  when  five  of  the  Indians  came  forward  with 
the  flag,  and  when  the  soldiers  were  within  about  thirty 
paces  they  dropped  the  flag,  set  fire  to  a  lot  of  rubbish 
they  had  collected,  and  about  thirty  rose  up  from  among 
the  "Spanish  bayonets"  within  ten  paces  of  the  soldiers. 
Twelve  had  rifles,  the  rest  bows  and  arrows;  besides 
which,  eight  or  ten,  mounted  on  horseback,  attacked  with 
lances.  With  a  yell  Hood's  men  went  into  them,  and 
fought  hand  to  hand,  the  Indians  beating  the  soldiers 


United  States  Cavalry.  175 

back  until  Hood  rallied  them  with  their  revolvers.  When 
he  commenced  firing  the  Indians  gave  way ;  but  when 
his  shots  were  expended,  he  was  obliged  to  fall  back  and 
leave  the  field.  Of  the  number  he  took  into  the  fight  he 
lost  six  killed  and  disabled,  and  was  himself  wounded. 
This  was  a  serious  affair,  and,  though  our  men  fought 
gallantly,  the  Indians  gained  a  complete  victory.  Hood 
made  his  way  to  Camp  Hudson,  where  he  obtained  sup 
plies  and  help  for  his  wounded  men. 

Colonel  Sumner's  fight  is  best  given  in  his  own  words. 
In  writing  from  the  Head-quarters  Cheyenne  Expedition, 
from  near  the  site  of  Fort  Atkinson,  on  the  Arkansas 
Eiver,  he  says:  "On  the  29th  of  July,  while  pursuing 
the  Cheyennes  down  Solomon's  fork  of  the  Kansas,  we 
suddenly  came  upon  a  large  body  of  them,  drawn  up  in 
battle  array,  with  their  left  resting  upon  the  stream  and 
their  right  covered  by  a  bluff.  Their  number  has  been 
variously  estimated  at  from  two  hundred  and  fifty  to  five 
hundred.  I  think  there  were  about  three  hundred.  The 
cavalry  was  about  three  miles  in  advance  of  the  infant 
ry,  and  the  six  companies  of  the  1st  regiment  of  Cavalry 
were  marching  in  three  columns.  I  immediately  brought 
them  into  line,  and,  without  halting,  detached  the  two 
flank  companies  at  a  gallop  to  turn  their  flanks  (a  move 
ment  they  were  evidently  preparing  to  make  against  our 
right),  and  we  continued  to  march  steadily  upon  them. 
The  Indians  were  all  mounted  and  well  armed ;  many  of 
them  had  rifles  and  revolvers,  and  they  stood,  with  re 
markable  boldness,  until  we  charged  and  were  nearly 
upon  them,  when  they  broke  in  all  directions,  and  we 
pursued  them  seven  miles.  Their  horses  were  fresh  and 


176  History  of  the 

very  fleet,  and  it  was  impossible  to  overtake  many  of 
them. 

"  There  were  but  nine  Indians  killed  in  the  pursuit, 
but  there  must  have  been  a  great  number  wounded.  I 
had  two  men  killed,  and  Lieutenant  J.  E.  B.  Stuart  and 
eight  men  wounded,  but  it  is  believed  they  will  all  recov 
er.  All  my  officers  and  men  behaved  admirably.  The 
next  day  I  established  a  small  fort  near  the  battle-ground, 
and  left  my  wounded  there,  in  charge  of  a  company  of 
infantry,  with  two  pieces  of  artillery,  with  orders  to  pro 
ceed  to  the  wagon  train,  at  the  lower  crossing  of  the  south 
fork  of  the  Platte,  on  the  20th  of  August,  if  I  did  not  re 
turn  before  that  time. 

"  On  the  31st  of  July  I  started  again  in  pursuit,  and  at 
fourteen  miles  I  came  upon  their  principal  town.  The 
people  had  all  fled ;  there  were  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
one  lodges  standing,  and  about  as  many  more  that  had 
,been  hastily  taken  down,  and  there  was  a  large  amount 
of  Indian  property  of  all  kinds,  of  great  value  to  them. 
I  had  every  thing  destroyed,  and  continued  the  pursuit. 
I  trailed  them  within  forty  miles  of  this  place,  when  they 
scattered  in  all  directions." 

Sumners.  pursuit  of  these  Indians  has  been  criticised 
somewhat  by  military  men.  He  used  only  the  sabre  in 
pursuing  the  Indians,  and  it  is  maintained  by  some  that, 
had  he  used  the  revolver  instead,  the  loss  of  the  enemy 
would  have  been  much  greater.  My  own  opinion  is  that, 
in  this  case,  the  revolver  would  have  been  the  better 
weapon. 

The  condition  of  affairs  in  Kansas  was  still  most  vexa 
tious.  To  maintain  the  supremacy  of  the  law,  and  to 


United  States  Cavalry.  177 

sustain  the  regularly  constituted  authorities  of  the  gov 
ernment,  the  soldiers  were  compelled  to  take  the  field 
against  those  whom  it  was  their  habit  to  regard  not  only 
with  feelings  of  kindness,  but  with  protective  care.  For 
bearance  tempered  with  firmness,  and  directed  by  a  sound 
judgment,  enabled  them  to  check  civil  strife,  and  restore 
order  and  tranquillity  without  shedding  blood. 

On  account  of  the  very  earnest  representations  of  the 
Governor  of  Kansas,  calling  for  g^d  from  the  troops,  Sum- 
ner's  command  was  brought  in  from  the  plains ;  and  that 
engaged  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Joe  Johnston,  of  the 
1st  Cavalry,  which  was  marking  the  southern  boundary 
of  Kansas,  was  also  brought  in.  But,  by  careful  manage 
ment,  the  troops  had  no  trouble  with  the  citizens. 

The  Territory  of  Utah,  peopled  almost  exclusively  by 
the  religious  sect  known  as  the  Mormons,  now  commenced 
making  trouble,  or  rather  they  had  been  engaged  in  it  for 
years  past,  and  had  on  many  occasions  set  the  authority 
of  the  United  States  at  defiance.  They  had  substituted 
for  the  laws  of  the  land  a  theocracy,  having  for  its  head 
an  individual  who  claimed  to  be  a  prophet  of  God. 

It  was  impossible  to  let  this  state  of  things  continue, 
though  it  was  the  desire  of  the  federal  government  to 
prevent  a  collision,  if  possible,  with  the  Mormon  people. 
It  was  thought  best  to  send  out  with  the  newly-appointed 
civil  officers  a  military  force  which  should  be  sufficient 
for  their  protection,  and  to  act,  in  case  of  necessity,  as  a 
posse  comitatus  in  enforcing  obedience  to  the  laws. 

Brevet  Brigadier  General  Harney  was  selected  by  the 
War  Department  as  the  head  of  the  Utah  army,  and  had 
his  head-quarters  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  where  his  troops 
assembled. 

H2 


178  History  of  the 

Whether  right  or  wrong  in  this  matter,  Brigham  Young 
published  one  of  the  most  remarkable  proclamations  ever 
issued  to  a  people,  and  one  which  contained  truths  which 
could  not  be  controverted. 

General  Harney  did  not  go  on  to  Utah,  but  left  the 
whole  affair  in  the  hands  of  Colonel  E.  B.  Alexander,  of 
the  10th  Infantry,  who  was  without  any  orders  of  any 
kind.  His  command  consisted  of  the  5th  and  10th  In 
fantry,  and  Phelps's  Light  Artillery  Battery.  The  Dra- 
goon$  intended  for  the  expedition  were  kept  back  by  the 
folly  of  the  Governor  of  Kansas,  and  Alexander's  com 
mand  was  left  without  a  mounted  force ;  but  the  colonel, 
by  the  most  energetic  efforts,  saved  the  trains  which 
reached  him,  though  two  of  them  were  burned.  It  was 
now  late  in  the  season,  the  snows  were  whitening  the  hills 
and  valleys,  and  want  was  apprehended.  At  a  late  hour, 
Colonel  Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  of  the  2d  Cavalry,  who 
was  in  Texas,  was  ordered  to  Washington,  and  was  there 
ordered  to  take  command  of  the  "  Utah  Expedition." 

It  was  now  November,  and  Colonel  Alexander  had 
concentrated  his  force  at  the  Black  Hills.  Cn  the  6th  of 
that  month,  Johnston  having  arrived,  he  determined  to 
winter  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Bridger.  The  day 
was  dreadfully  cold,  and  that  night  more  than  five  hund 
red  animals  perished ;  their  frozen  bodies  were  seen  next 
morning  around  the  camp,  reminding  the  beholders  of 
the  terrible  retreat  of  the  French  from  Moscow. 

The  Dragoons  started  late  in  the  season,  as  the  Govern 
or  of  Kansas  would  not  part  with  them  before,  and  the 
march  was  one  of  severe  hardships.  When  they  reached 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  the  snow  lay  from  one  to  three  feet 


United  States  Cavalry.  179 

on  the  loftier  ridges  which  they  were  obliged  to  cross. 
Nearly  a  third  of  the  horses  died  of  cold,  hunger,  and  fa 
tigue  ;  and  when,  on  the  20th  of  November,  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Cooke  reached  the  camp,  his  command  was  en 
tirely  incapacitated  from  active  service. 

The  2d  Dragoons  was  afterward  sent  out  on  Henry's 
Fork,  to  guard  the  animals  belonging  to  the  expedition, 
during  the  winter  of  1857-'58.  The  command  suffered 
dreadfully  for  want  of  salt  during  that  winter,  but  finally 
all  things  were  bettered,  and  with  the  return  of  spring 
the  soldiers  were  once  more  made  comfortable.  This  ac 
count  of  the  Utah  Expedition  is  given  as  a  part  of  the 
history  of  the  Cavalty,  and,  though  the  campaign  was  a 
bloodless  one,  it  is  undoubtedly  true  that  on  no  other  ex 
pedition  did  our  mounted  men  ever  suffer  so  much. 

In  the  spring  of  1858  the  Mormons  deserted  the  City  of 
the  Great  Salt  Lake  and  fled  to  the  mountains ;  and  their 
hatred  toward  the  United  States  on  account  of  this  relig 
ious  persecution,  as  they  considered  it,  was  of  the  most 
bitter  character.  In  the  history  of  the  Jews  writhing 
under  the  Spanish  Inquisition,  of  the  Albigenses  hunted 
through  Languedoc,  a  record  of  similar  bitterness  may  be 
found,  but  its  parallel  does  not  exist  outside  the  annals 
of  religious  persecution. 

The  entrance  of  the  army  into  Salt  Lake  City  was  one 
of  the  most  remarkable  scenes  in  American  history.  All 
day  long  the  troops  marched  through  the  long  streets. 
The  only  sounds  which  broke  the  stillness  of  the  scene 
was  the  music  of  the  military  bands  and  the  dull  clank 
ing  of  the  baggage  wagons  as  they  rolled  along.  The 
streets  and  houses  were  deserted.  The  stillness  was  so 


180  History  of  the 

profound  that,  during  the  intervals  of  the  columns,  the 
gurgling  of  the  creek  which  runs  through  the  city  could 
be  distinctly  heard  by  the  few  who  were  passing  silent 
ly  along.  It  was  like  the  city  of  the  dead,  so  quiet  was 
it. 

During  the  winter,  Captain  Marcy,  of  the  5th  Infantry, 
had  been  sent  to  the  settlements  in  New  Mexico  for  sup 
plies — salt  in  particular — and,  upon  his  return,  had  been 
accompanied  by  a  detachment  of  the  Mounted  Eifle  regi 
ment,  under  Colonel  Loring,  who  had  been  promoted  col 
onel  upon  the  promotion  of  Persifer  F.  Smith  to  the 
grade  of  brigadier  general,  on  the  30th  of  December, 
1856.  George  B.  Crittenden  then  became  lieutenant  col 
onel,  and  Charles  F.  Kuff  major. 

The  order  of  march  from  Fort  Bridger  was  as  follows : 

Brevet  Colonel  C.  F.  Smith's  battalion  ; 

10th  Infantry,  and  Phelps's  Battery  ; 

5th  Infantry,  and  Keno's  Battery  ; 

Loring's  battalion  of  Mounted  Eiflemen  ; 

3d  Infantry ; 

6th  Infantry ; 

Volunteers ; 

2d  Dragoons. 

The  2d  regiment  of  Cavalry  received  orders  to  march 
to  Utah,  and  concentrated  on  the  Brazos  Eiver,  near  Fort 
Belknap,  in  the  summer  of  1858,  but  the  order  was  coun 
termanded,  and  the  regiment  was  again  scattered  over 
Texas. 

The  Mormons  promised  to  obey  the  laws,  a  camp  was 
established  thirty-six  miles  from  Salt  Lake  City,  and  thus 
ended  the  widely -known  Utah  Expedition.  For  his  con- 


United  States  Cavalry.  181 

duct  on  this  expedition,  Colonel  Johnston  was  made  a 
brevet  brigadier  general. 

Brigadier  General  Persifer  F.  Smith  died  at  Fort  Leav 
en  worth  in  the  month  of  May,  1858.  On  the  14th  of 
June,  Colonel  Harney,  who  was  a  brevet  brigadier  gen 
eral,  was  appointed  to  fill  the  Vacancy.  P.  St.  George 
Cooke  then  became  colonel  of  the  2d  Dragoons,  Marshal 
S.  Howe  lieutenant  colonel,  and  Lawrence  P.  Graham 
junior  major. 


182  History  of  the 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Steptoe's  Defeat,  and  Death  of  Captain  Taylor  and  Lieutenant  Gaston. — 
Battle  of  the  Four  Lakes,  Oregon. — Battle  at  the  Witchita  Village, 
Texas. — Lieutenant  Van  Camp  killed.— Indian  Skirmishes  in  1858. — 
Camels  used  for  Scouting  in  Texas. — An  Officer's  Life  on  the  Frontier. 
— Fight  in  the  Valley  of  the  Nescutunga. 

DURING  the  year  1858,  the  Indians  in  Oregon,  New 
Mexico,  and  Texas  were  very  troublesome,  and  several 
mounted  officers  and  men  fell  while  maintaining  the 
honor  of  our  flag  on  distant  and  obscure  fields.  It  is 
wonderful  the  amount  of  labor  done  by  the  mounted  reg 
iments,  and  the  number  of  conflicts  they  had  with  the 
savages. 

In  May  of  this  year  occurred  one  of  the  most  sad 
events  that  ever  befell  our  cavalry.  The  Indians  of  Ore 
gon  had  broken  the  terms  of  the  peace,  and  had  murder 
ed  some  white  men.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Steptoe  was 
sent  out  to  try  and  see  what  could  be  done.  He  had 
with  him  three  companies  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  and  com 
pany  E,  9th  Infantry — in  all,  five  company  officers  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty-two  enlisted  men.  Hearing  that 
the  hostile  Pelouses  were  near  Al-pon-on-we,  in  the  Nez 
Perces  land,,  he  moved  to  that  point,  and  was  ferried 
across  Snake  Eiver  by  a  Nez  Perces  chief.  The  enemy 
fled  north,  and  he  followed  leisurely  on  the  road  to  Col- 
ville. 

On  Sunday  morning,  the  16th  of  May,  he  found  his 


United  States  Cavalry.  183 

command  suddenly  surrounded  by  ten  or  twelve  hund 
red  Indians,  of  various  tribes — Spokanes,  Pelouses,  Coeur 
d'Alenes  Yakimas,  and  some  others — all  armed,  painted, 
and  defiant.  He  moved  slowly  on  until  just  about  to 
enter  a  ravine,  when,  seeing  it  was  the  intention  of  the 
Indians  to  attack  him  in  that  place,  he  turned  aside  and 
encamped.  The  Indians  moved  up  alongside,  the  whole 
wild  and  frenzied  mass  yelling  and  taunting  the  soldiers 
in  every  way. 

The  Indians  now  wished  to  parley.  Steptoe  gave  them 
the  opportunity,  when  they  inquired  why  he  was  invad 
ing  their  country.  He  told  them  he  was  not  doing  so, 
but  was  on  his  way  to  Colville,  and  wished,  if  possible,  to 
keep  peace.  The  Indians  appeared  to  be  satisfied,  but 
would  not  give  him  boats  with  which  to  cross  the  Spo 
kane  Kiver.  He  therefore  concluded  to  retrace  his  steps, 
and  the  next  morning  turned  back  toward  the  post. 

He  had  not  marched  more  than  three  miles,  when  the 
Indians,  who  had  gathered  on  the  hills  adjoining  the  line 
of  march,  began  an  attack  on  the  rear  guard,  and  imme 
diately  the  fight  became  general.  The  soldiers  were 
obliged  to  defend  the  pack-train  while  in  motion  in  a 
country  peculiarly  adapted  to  Indian  warfare.  They  had 
but  a  small  supply  of  ammunition,  and,  becoming  excited, 
fired  in  the  wildest  manner.  They  did,  however,  sustain 
the  reputation  of  the  army  for  gallantry,  and  fought  for 
some  hours,  charging  repeatedly  with  determination  and 
success.  The  difficult  and  dangerous  duty  of  flanking 
the  column  was  assigned  to  Brevet  Captain  Oliver  H.  P. 
Taylor  and  Lieutenant  William  R  Gaston,  of  the  1st  Dra 
goons,  to  both  of  whom  it  proved  fatal. 


184  History  of  the 

Gaston  was  killed  about  twelve  o'clock,  when  his  com 
pany  gave  way  before  overwhelming  numbers.  About 
half  an  hour  afterward  Captain  Taylor  was  brought  in 
mortally  wounded. 

Upon  this,  Steptoe  took  possession  of  a  neighboring 
height  and  halted.  The  fight  still  continued,  the  enemy 
occupying  the  neighboring  hills  and  picking  off  our  men. 
The  number  of  wounded  continued  to  increase,  and  it 
was  evident  the  Indians  intended  to  attempt  to  carry  the 
hill  by  assault.  The  loss  of  their  officers  and  comrades 
began  to  tell  on  the  spirits  of  the  men ;  they  were  be 
coming  discouraged ;  added  to  this  was  the  fact  that  their 
ammunition  was  nearly  exhausted,  and  two  companies 
were  armed  with  musketoons,  which,  in  their  present  con 
dition,  were  of  no  service  whatever.  It  was  plain  the 
enemy  would  give  them  no  rest  during  the  night,  and, 
after  a  consultation  with  his  officers,  Steptoe  determined 
to  make  a  forced  march  for  Snake  Eiver,  eighty-five  miles 
distant,  and  secure  the  canoes  in  advance  of  the  Indians, 
who  had  already  threatened  to  do  so  in  regard  to  them. 

Accordingly,  about  ten  o'clock  at  night,  the  command 
started,  and,  after  a  most  fatiguing  march,  crossed  Snake 
Kiver  in  safety.  This  was  a  most  deplorable  affair,  but 
no  one  was  to  blame.  Our  men  fought  the  best  they 
could,  but  were  overpowered  by  superior  numbers.  The 
loss  to  the  Indians  was  not  ascertained,  though  several 
were  known  to  have  been  killed,  but  they  gained  a  de 
cided  advantage,  and  it  made  them  more  arrogant  than 
ever. 

It  was  determined  immediately  to  punish  the  Indians, 
and  a  force  was  fitted  out,  under  command  of  Colonel 


United  States  Cavalry.  187 

George  Wright,  of  the  9th  regiment  of  Infantry.  A  work 
was  thrown  up  at  the  junction  of  the  Snake  and  Tucanon 
Rivers,  called  Fort  Taylor,  after  which  the  troops  crossed 
the  former  stream.  This  was  on  the  26th  of  August. 

On  the  1st  of  September  a  fight  took  place,  which  is 
known  as  the  "Battle  of  the  Four  Lakes."  I  give  the 
following  graphic  description  of  the  fight,  written  by  Lieu 
tenant  Kip,  of  the  Artillery.  He  says ;  "  My  place,  as 
adjutant  of  the  artillery  battalion,  was  of  course  with 
Captain  Keyes.  We  rode  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  when  the 
whole  scene  lay  before  us  like  a  splendid  panorama. 
Below  us  lay  *  four  lakes' — a  large  one  at  the  foot  of  the 
barren  hill  on  which  we  were,  and  j  ust  beyond  it  three 
smaller  ones — surrounded  by  rugged  rocks,  and  almost 
entirely  fringed  with  pines.  Between  these  lakes,  and  be 
yond  them  to  the  northwest,  stretched  out  a  plain  for 
miles,  terminated  by  bare  grassy  hills,  one  succeeding  an 
other  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach.  In  the  far  distance 
was  dimly  seen  a  line  of  mountains  covered  with  the 
black  pine. 

"  On  the  plain  below  us  we  saw  the  enemy.  Every  spot 
seemed  alive  with  the  wild  warriors  we  had  come  so  far 
to  meet.  They  were  in  the  pines  on  the  edge  of  the  lakes, 
in  the  ravines  and  gullies,  on  the  opposite  hill-sides,  and 
swarming  on  the  plain.  They  seemed  to  cover  the  coun 
try  for  some  two  miles.  Mounted  on  their  fleet,  hardy 
horses,  the  crowds  swayed  back  and  forth,  brandishing 
their  weapons,  shouting  their  war-cries,  and  keeping  up  a 
song  of  defiance.  Most  of  them  were  armed  with  Hud 
son  Bay  muskets,  while  others  had  bows  and  arrows  and 
lances.  They  were  in  all  the  bravery  of  their  war  array, 


188  History  of  the 

gaudily  painted,  and  decorated  with  their  wild  trappings 
—their  plumes  fluttered  above  them,  while  below,  skins 
and  trinkets,  and  all  kinds  of  fantastic  embellishments, 
flaunted  in  the  sunshine.  Their  horses,  too,  were  arrayed 
in  the  most  glaring  finery.  Some  were  even  painted,  and 
with  colors  to  form  the  greatest  contrast — the  white  being 
smeared  with  crimson  in  fantastic  figures,  and  the  dark- 
colored  streaked  with  white  clay.  Beads  and  fringes  of 
gaudy  colors  were  hanging  from  their  bridles,  while  the 
plumes  of  eagles'  feathers,  interwoven  with  the  mane  and 
tail,  fluttered  as  the  breeze  swept  over  them,  and  com 
pleted  their  wild,  fantastic  appearance. 

"  'By  heavens !  it  was  a  glorious  sight  to  see 
The  gay  array  of  their  wild  chivalry.' 

"  But  we  had  no  time  for  mere  admiration,  for  other 
work  was  at  hand.  Orders  were  at  once  issued  for  the 
artillery  and  infantry  to  be  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and 
advance  down  the  hill,  driving  the  Indians  before  them 
from  their  coverts  until  they  reached  the  plain,  where 
the  Dragoons  could  act  against  them.  At  the  same  time, 
Lieutenant  White,  with  the  howitzer  battery,  supported 
by  company  A,  under  Lieutenant  Tyler,  and  the  Eifles, 
was  sent  to  the  right  to  drive  them  out  of  the  woods. 
The  latter  met  with  a  vigorous  resistance ;  but  a  few  dis 
charges  of  the  howitzer,  with  their  spirited  attack,  soon 
dislodged  the  enemy,  and  compelled  them  to  take  refuge 
on  the  hills. 

"In  the  mean  while,  the  companies  moved  down  the 
hill  with  all  the  precision  of  a  parade,  and,  as  we  rode 
along  the  line,  it  was  pleasant  to  see  the  enthusiasm  of 
the  men  to  get  within  reach  of  the  enemy.  As  soon  as 


United  States  Cavalry.  189 

they  were  within  some  six  hundred  yards  they  opened 
their  fire,  and  delivered  it  steadily  as  they  advanced. 
Our  soldiers  aimed  regularly,  though  it  was  no  easy  task 
to  hit  their  shifting  marks.  The  Indians  acted  as  skir 
mishers,  advancing  rapidly  and  delivering  their  fire,  and 
then  retreating  again  with  a  quickness  and  irregularity 
which  rendered  it  difficult  to  reach  them.  They  were 
wheeling  and  dashing  about,  always  on  the  run,  appar 
ently  each  fighting  on  his  own  account. 

"But  Minie-balls  and  long-range  rifles  were  things  with 
which  now,  for  the  first  time,  they  were  to  be  made  ac 
quainted.  As  the  line  advanced,  first  we  saw  one  Indian 
reel  in  his  saddle  and  fall — then  two  or  three — then  half 
a  dozen.  Then  some,  horses  would  dash  madly  forward, 
showing  that  the  balls  were  telling  upon  them.  The  in 
stant,  however,  that  the  '  braves'  fell,  they  were  seized  by 
their  companions  and  dragged  to  the  rear,  to  be  borne 
off.  We  saw  one  Indian  leading  off  a  horse  with  two  of 
his  dead  companions  tied  on  it. 

"  But  in  a  few  minutes,  as  the  line  drew  nearer,  the  fire 
became  too  heavy,  and  the  whole  array  broke  and  fled 
toward  the  plain.  This  was  the  chance  for  which  the 
Dragoons  had  been  impatiently  waiting.  As  the  line 
advanced  they  had  followed  on  behind  it,  leading  their 
horses.  Now  the  order  was  given  to  mount,  and  they 
rode  through  the  company  intervals  to  the  front.  In  an 
instant  was  heard  the  voice  of  Major  Grier  ringing  over 
the  plain,  as  he  shouted,  'Charge  the  rascals!'  and  on  the 
Dragoons  went  at  headlong  speed.  Taylor's  and  Gas- 
ton's  companies  were  there,  burning  for  revenge,  and 
soon  they  were  on  them.  We  saw  the  flash  of  their  sa- 


190  History  of  the 

bres  as  they  cut  them  down.  Lieutenant  Davidson  shot 
one  warrior  from  his  saddle  as  they  charged  up,  and 
Lieutenant  Gregg  clove  the  skull  of  another.  Yells,  and 
shrieks,  and  uplifted  hands  were  of  no  avail,  as  they  rode 
over  them.  A  number  were  left  dead  upon  the  ground, 
when  once  more  the  crowd  broke  and  dashed  forward  to 
the  hills.  It  was  a  race  for  life,  as  the  flying  warriors 
streamed  out  of  the  glens  and  ravines,  and  over  the  open 
plain,  and  took  refuge  in  the  clumps  of  woods  or  on  the 
rising  ground. 

"  Here  they  were  secure  from  the  Dragoons.  Had  the 
latter  been  well  mounted  they  would  have  made  a  terri 
ble  slaughter.  But  their  horses  were  too  much  worn  out 
to  allow  them  to  reach  the  main  body.  For  twenty-eight 
days  they  had  been  on  their  march,  their  horses  saddled 
all  day  and  engaged  in  constant  scouting,  at  night  picket 
ed,  with  only  a  little  grass  after  camping.  They  were 
obliged,  therefore,  to  halt  when  they  reached  the  hill-side, 
their  horses  being  entirely  blown. 

"Then  the  line  of  foot  once  more  passed  them  and  ad 
vanced,  renewing  their  fire,  and  driving  the  Indians  over 
the  hills  for  about  two  miles.  As  we  ascended,  the  men 
were  so  totally  exhausted  that  many  had  fallen  out  of 
the  ranks,  and  Captain  Keyes  was  obliged  to  order  a 
short  halt  to  let  them  come  up.  When  a  portion  had 
joined  we  resumed  our  march." 

The  enemy  was  completely  routed,  and  retreated  pre 
cipitately.  The  loss  to  Wright's  command  was  trifling, 
and  the  Indians  are  supposed  to  have  lost  seventeen  killed 
and  between  forty  and  fifty  wounded. 

Colonel  Wright,  in  his  report,  mentions  the  gallant  con- 


United  States  Cavalry.  191 

duct  of  the  cavalry  officers  with  him.  They  were,  Bre 
vet  Major  drier,  Lieutenants  Henry  B.  Davidson,  William 
D.  Fender,  and  David  McM.  Gregg.  The  latter,  with  As 
sistant  Surgeon  John  F.  Randolph,  was  with  Steptoe  at 
the  time  of  his  fight.  Randolph  behaved  admirably,  and 
was  thanked  by  the  commanding  officer. 

Again  the  enemy  was  met  on  the  Spokan  Plains,  and 
here,  too,  they  were  again  defeated ;  the  dragoons  here, 
as  before,  doing  their  whole  duty.  Finding  that  they 
had  mistaken  the  strength  of  the  whites,  the  Indians  sued 
for  peace,  which  was  granted  them,  and  they  were  glad 
to  remain  quiet.  The  blood  of  Taylor  and  Gaston  was 
avenged ! 

The  grain  which  the  Indians  had  collected  was  destroy 
ed  ;  but  the  most  severe  blow  was  given  to  them  in  the 
destruction  of  their  horses,  a  large  number  of  them  hav 
ing  been  captured.  Without  horses  these  Indians  were 
powerless. 

Brevet  Captain  Oliver  H.  Perry  Taylor,  who  was  kill 
ed,  was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  and,  after  graduating  at 
West  Point,  joined  the  1st  Dragoons  in  July,  1846.  He 
was  breveted  first  lieutenant  at  Embudo  and  Taos,  and 
captain  at  Santa  Cruz  de  los  Resales.  He  was  a  fine 
man,  and  by  his  amiable  character  had  won  many  friends. 

Second  Lieutenant  William  F.  Gaston  was  from  North 
Carolina.  He  graduated  at  West  -Point  in  July,  1856, 
and  became  a  lieutenant  in  the  1st  Dragoons  in  Novem 
ber.  His  classmates,  who  knew  him,  entertained  a  high 
respect  for  him.  He  had  often  expressed  a  wish  to  die 
in  battle,  and  the  wish  was  gratified. 

In  the  month  of  September,  Brevet  Major  Earl  Van 


192  History  of  the 

Dorn,  with  four  companies  of  the  2d  Cavalry,  left  the 
clear  fork  of  the  Brazos  River  on  an  extended  scout  aft 
er  Indians.  He  traveled  to  Otter  Creek,  where  he  built 
a  stockade  inclosure  for  the  protection  of  his  supplies, 
and,  leaving  a  small  party  of  infantry  to  guard  it,  pushed 
on  toward  the  Antelope  Hills.  He  had  moved  but  a 
short  distance,  when  his  spies  came  in,  and  informed  him 
that  they  had  found  a  large  Camanche  camp,  near  the 
Witchita  village,  about  ninety  miles  due  east  from  the 
depot. 

Upon  the  receipt  of  this  information,  he  had  all  the 
stores,  draught-mules,  and  extra  horses  moved  at  once 
into  the  defensive  inclosure,  and  marched  for  that  point 
with  the  cavalry  and  Indian  allies.  After  making  a 
forced  march  of  ninety  odd  miles  in  thirty-eight  hours, 
during  the  latter  part  of  which  the  men  were  continu 
ously  in  the  saddle  for  sixteen  and  a  half  hours,  includ 
ing  the  charge  and  pursuit,  they  arrived  at  the  village  on 
the  morning  of  the  1st  instant. 

He  had  been  in  hopes  to  reach  a  point  in  close  prox 
imity  to  the  enemy  before  daylight,  and  had  made  dispo 
sitions  for  an  attack  based  on  information  received  from 
the  spies ;  but,  as  daybreak  came  upon  them  when  they 
were  yet  four  or  five  miles  off,  he  found  the  information 
incorrect.  He  formed  his  companies  in  four  columns, 
with  interval's  of  onejiundred  yards,  and  then  moved  on, 
giving  orders  to  the  captains  to  deploy  and  charge  when 
ever  they  came  in  sight  of  the  village.  After  marching 
in  this  way  for  some  time,  the  charge  was  sounded  on  the 
left,  and  in  a  moment  the  soldiers  swarmed  down  into 
the  enemy's  camp  in  gallant  style,  and  soon  found  them- 


United  States  Cavalnj.  193 

selves  warmly  met  by  the  Indians,  who  defended  their 
camp  with  obstinacy.  * 

There  being  many  ravines  near  the  camp,  it  was  an 
hour  and  a  half  before  the  Indians  were  entirely  beaten 
out  of  it,  during  which  time  there  were  many  hand  to 
hand  encounters,  both  by  officers  and  men.  The  friendly 
Indians  meantime  had  been  stampeding  the  animals  of 
the  Carnanches,  and  ran  off  the  whole  caballada.  Yan 
.  Dorn  gained  a  complete  victory,  the  Indians  leaving  be 
tween  seventy  and  eighty  dead  on  the  field.  But  our 
own  loss  was  serious ;  and  Second  Lieutenant  Cornelius 
Yan  Camp,  of  the  2d  Cavalry,  a  young  officer  of  much 
promise,  was  killed  on  the  field,  with  several  of  the  men. 
Major  Yan  Dorn  was  severely  wounded,  together  with  a 
number  of  the  soldiers.  This  was,  perhaps,  the  most  com 
plete  victory  ever  achieved  over  the  Camanches ;  indeed, 
the  commanding  general  of  the  department  said,  in  his 
general  order  upon  the  subject,  that  it  was  "  a  victory 
more  decisive  and  complete  than  any  recorded  in  the  his 
tory  of  Indian  warfare." 

The  officers  engaged  were  Major  Yan  Dorn,  Captains 
Charles  J.  Whiting,  Nathan  GK  Evans,  and  Eichard  W. 
Johnson ;  Lieutenants  Charles  "W.  Phifer,  Cornelius  Yan 
Camp,  James  E.  Harrison,  A.  Parker  Porter,  and  James 
W.  Major,  all  of  the  2d  Cavalry. 

This,  with  the  fights  in  Oregon,  were  the  most  import 
ant  fought  during  the  year ;  but  there  were  others,  which, 
in  justice  to  those  engaged,  I  will  give  in  the  order  in 
which  they  occurred.  The  facts  are  gathered  mainly 
from  Lieutenant  General  Scott's  Order,  No.  22,  for  the 
year  1858. 


194  History  of  the 

In  May,  the  northern  column  of  the  Gila  Expedition, 
under  Colonel  Loring,  of  the  Mounted  Eifles,  after  a  dif 
ficult  pursuit,  overtook  a  party  of  Mogollon  Indians  in 
the  mountains,  and,  after  a  spirited  skirmish,  defeated 
them.  Among  the  killed  was  a  notorious  Mogollon 
chief  named  Cuchillo  Negro.  The  families  of  the  Indians 
were  taken  prisoners,  their  camp  equipage  captured,  and 
a  flock  of  about  a  thousand  sheep  taken. 

Second  Lieutenant  James  B.  Witherell,  of  the  2d  Cav- , 
airy,  with  a  small  detachment  from  that  regiment,  came 
up  with  a  party  of  Indians  (who  had  robbed  the  mail 
party  of  a  number  of  mules)  near  the  head  waters  of  the 
Nueces  (Texas)  in  November,  1858.  A  short  and  severe 
contest  took  place ;  the  Indians  were  routed  and  defeat 
ed.  Lieutenant  Witherell  and  three  of  the  soldiers  were 
wounded.  In  their  flight  the  Indians  made  their  first 
march  of  ninety  miles  without  stopping. 

Lieutenant  William  W.  Averell,  and  a  detachment  of 
Mounted  Eifles,  captured  a  party  of  Indians  near  Fort 
Craig,  New  Mexico.  They  attempted  to  escape,  when 
the  lieutenant  and  his  men  fired  upon  them,  killing  all 
of  them.  They  had  been  committing  various  depreda 
tions,  and  merited  their  fate. 

Sergeant  McDonald,  of  the  2d  Cavalry,  had  a  fight  with 
a  party  of  Indians  near  the  Llano  Eiver,  in  Texas,  kill 
ing  some  of  them,  and  having  three  of  his  own  men 
wounded. 

In  August,  Captain  McLane,  with  a  party  of  Mounted 
Eifles,  and  a  body  of  guides  and  spies,  was  attacked  by  a 
large  force  of  Navajo  Indians  near  Bear  Spring,  New 
Mexico.  This  was  an  unequal  contest,  highly  creditable 


United  States  Cavalry.  195 

to  Captain  McLane,  who  was  severely  wounded,  and 
he  succeeded  in  beating  the  Indians,  with  considerable 
loss. 

In  New  Mexico,  the  Mounted  Kines,  under  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Miles,  fought  the  Indians  on  several  occasions 
during  the  autumn  of  1858  ;  Captains  Elliott  and  Hatch, 
Lieutenants  Lane  and  Averell,  particularly  distinguished 
themselves. 

It  may  be  well  to  mention  that  the  camels  which  were 
purchased  by  the  government  were  sent  to  Camp  Yerde, 
in  Texas,  where  they  were  for  a  time  in  charge  of  a  cav 
alry  company.  At  that  place  they  increased  in  numbers 
very  considerably,  a  portion  having  been  sent  across  to 
California  with  Mr.  Beale.  There  is  no  doubt  about  the 
fact  that  they  will  do  well  in  this  country,  though  our 
people  as  yet  do  not  understand  loading  and  packing 
them;  but,  as  we  gain  knowledge  upon  this  subject,  we 
may  yet  render  these  animals  in  America  very  useful. 
The  rebellion  has  retarded  progress  in  many  ways,  and 
at  its  close,  if  there  are  any  camels  left,  they  may  yet  be 
successfully  experimented  with. 

The  few  times  they  were  sent  out  on  the  sterile  plains 
of  Western  Texas  they  did  well,  and  those  who  had  them 
in  charge  spoke  highly  of  their  capacity.  The  Bedouins 
of  the  desert  have  many  absurd  ideas  about  them,  which 
it  will  do  well  for  us  to  discard,  if  we  intend  to  make  use 
of  them  here.  They  are  not  very  handsome  animals,  and 
I  do  not  think  cavalry  men  would  readily  take  a  liking 
to  them.  The  deserts  of  America  exhibit  nearly  the 
same  features  as  the  well-known  desert  districts  on  the 
Libyan  and  Arabian  sides  of  the  Nile  valley,  and  we  may 


196  History  of  tlie 

yet  see  a  dromedary  corps  fitted  out  for  that  region, 
though  the  time  appears  now  to  be  far  distant. 

The  year  1859  was  not  an  eventful  one  for  the  Caval 
ry,  although  one  or  two  fights  occurred  which  were  of 
some  importance.  The  regiments  remained  in  their  for 
mer  positions,  with  the  exception  of  five  companies  of  the 
1st  Cavalry,  which  were  sent  to  the  Department  of  Texas. 
It  seems  almost  too  monotonous  to  continue  to  describe 
the  skirmishes  which  our  cavalry  troops  had  from  time 
to  time,  but  I  see  no  help  for  it,  and  must  record  events 
as  they  happened.  To  say  that  the  mounted  force  was 
at  peace  would  be  to  say  what  was  not  so,  although  the 
country  itself  might  have  been.  The  life  of  the  cavalry 
man  on  the  frontier  was  one  of  extreme  hardship,  and  of 
ficers  grew  prematurely  old  while  undergoing  the  priva 
tions  incident  thereto.  There  seemed  no  prospect  of  a 
better  condition  of  things.  Their  lives  were  spent  among 
the  wildest  scenes,  and,  as  a  class,  this  served  to  purify 
them,  and  they  were  honest,  upright,  and  charitable. 
Their  leaves  of  absence  from  duty  were  few,  and  at  long 
intervals ;  and  many  people  who,  in  the  commencement 
of  the  rebellion,  welcomed  their  coming  as  one  of  the 
greatest  blessings  to  the  Union  cause,  had,  while  they 
were  stationed  on  the  frontiers,  let  no  opportunity  escape 
of  disparaging  them,  or  the  noble  little  army  to  which 
they  belonged. 

But  that  school  made  them  true  soldiers,  than  whom 
there  are  no  better  on  earth. 

In  October,  1858,  the  regiment  of  Mounted  Eifles  in 
New  Mexico  had  several  conflicts  with  the  Indians,  in 
which  they  were  almost  uniformly  successful.  In  these, 


United  States  Cavalry.  197 

Captains  McLane,  Lindsay,  "Washington  L.  Elliott,  Dun 
can,  and  Morris,  and  Lieutenants  Howland,  Averell,  and 
Lane  were  much  distinguished.  These  fights  were  some 
of  them  severe,  and  the  Kifles  lost  a  number  of  men  killed 
and  wounded. 

In  February,  Lieutenant  David  S.  Stanley,  of  the  1st 
Cavalry,  with  some  men  of  his  regiment,  after  an  excit 
ing  chase,  killed  several  Camanches  who  had  been  rob 
bing  near  Fort  Arbuckle. 

In  May,  Captain  Albert  G.  Brackett,  with  Lieutenant 
Wesley  Owens,  and  his  company  of  the  2d  Cavalry,  made 
a  scout  down  the  great  Camanche  trail  a  long  distance, 
met  a  party  of  Indians  and  defeated  them,  and  returned 
by  way  of  Presidio  del  Norte,  in  the  Mexican  State  of 
Chihuahua,  to  the  American  side  of  the  Eio  Grande. 

In  August,  Lieutenant  Ebenezer  Gay,  with  company 
G,  2d  Dragoons,  had  a  severe  fight  with  the  Indians  in 
Utah,  and  defeated  them  most  signally.  Gay  had  several 
men  wounded,  and  killed  quite  a  number  of  the  enemy. 

But  the  main  fight  of  this  year  was  again  fought  by 
Yan  Dorn,  with  a  command  of  the  2d  Cavalry,  against 
the  Camanches,  in  Texas,  who  are  among  the  best  riders 
in  the  world.  Their  horsemanship  is  truly  remarkable. 
In  this  fight,  both  Captain  E.  Kirby  Smith  and  Lieuten 
ant  Fitzhugh  Lee,  of  the  2d  Cavalry,  were  wounded. 
They  have  since  become  widely  known  as  leaders  in  the 
ranks  of  the  rebels.  The  fight  of  Yan  Dorn  took  place 
in  the  valley  of  the  Nescutunga ;  but  I  can  do  no  better 
than  give  his  somewhat  flowery  account  of  the  position 
and  of  the  fight.  He  says:  "On  the  12th  of  May,  the 
second  day  after  leaving  the  Cimarron,  the* column  de- 


198  History  of  the 

scended  into  the  valley  of  the  Nescutunga,  a  beautiful 
stream — direct  tributary  of  the  Arkansas — whose  sweet 
waters  and  green  sloping  banks,  shaded  by  groves  of  the 
thickest  foliage,  were  especially  inviting  to  me,  just  emerg 
ing  from  a  desert,  as  they  were,  no  doubt,  at  all  times  to 
the  Camanches.  Here  was  found  the  remains  of  a  camp 
of  several  hundred,  probably  as  many  as  a  thousand  In 
dians,  which  had  not  been  abandoned  more  than  ten  or 
twelve  days.  I  accordingly  halted,  and  ordered  out  my 
Indian  spies,  who  returned  about  dark  with  the  intelli 
gence  that  there  was  a  large,  fresh  trail  going  north,  about 
four  miles  down  the  valley.  I  put  the  column  on  this 
trail  the  next  morning  and  followed  it.  There  was  an 
incessant  fall  of  rain  during  the  march,  accompanied  by 
a  cold  north  wind,  which,  though  it  increased  the  proba 
bilities  of  our  success,  made  the  ground  extremely  heavy, 
slippery,  and  leg-wearying  to  the  horses  and  pack-mules. 
After  following  the  trail,  therefore,  until  about  two  o'clock, 
I  halted  to  rest  and  to  graze  them,  intending  to  move  on 
later  in  the  evening.  Our  bivouac  fires  had  not  been  kin 
dled  long  before  an  alarm  was  given  by  a  sentinel  of  the 
picket  guard,  who  reported  that  he  had  seen  two  Caman 
ches  peering  over  the  crest  of  a  neighboring  hill  into 
camp.  I  immediately  detached  Lieutenant  W.  B.  Roy  all, 
with  thirty  men,  to  ascertain  the  truth  of  the  report,  and 
to  see  if  he  could  discover  any  sign  of  the  enemy's  pres 
ence  in  our  vicinity.  In  a  short  time  a  messenger  from 
the  lieutenant  dashed  into  camp,  and  reported  to  me  that 
there  was  a  large  party  of  Camanches  in  a  ravine  about 
three  miles  off;  that  Lieutenant  Royall  was  endeavoring 
to  separate  them  and  their  horses ;  that  he  would  try  and 


United  States  Cavalry.  199 

keep  them  at  '  bay'  until  I  could  bring  up  my  command. 
I  ordered  'to  horse'  sounded,  the  guard  to  be  left  in 
charge  of  pack-mules,  and  then  mounting,  proceeded  at  a 
gallop  to  the  scene.  Upon  my  arrival,  I  found  Lieuten 
ant  Koyall,  with  his  detachment  mounted,  near  the  ra 
vine,  holding  the  Camanches  in  check  in  their  camp,  from 
whom  he  had  very  adroitly  driven  off  their  horses,  for 
which  great  credit  is  due  him.  The  position  taken  by 
the  Indians  I  found  to  be  a  remarkably  strong  one  for 
defense,  being  in  a  deep  ravine,  densely  covered  with  a 
stunted  growth  of  timber  and  brambles,  through  which  a 
small  stream,  with  abrupt  banks,  meandered  from  bluff  to 
bluff  on  either  side.  ^ 

"It  was  impossible  to  penetrate  this  jungle  but  slowly ; 
and  it  was  equally  impossible  to  get  a  glimpse  of  the  con 
cealed  enemy  until  within  a  few  yards  of  him,  or  until 
the  flight  of  his  arrow,  which  seemed  to  come  from  the 
ground,  indicated  his  locality.  It  was  necessary  to  use 
caution.  I  accordingly  dismounted  some  riflemen  and 
felt  for  his  position.  In  doing  this,  the  skirmishers,  who 
entered  above  into  the  ravine,  and  some  farther  down, 
under  Captain  E.  K.  Smith,  got  on  opposite  sides  of  the 
ravine,  and  were  endangering  each  other's  lives  by  a  cross 
fire.  I  immediately  sounded  the  'rally,'  and  had  the 
companies  re-formed.  Mounted  troops  were  then  placed 
on  the  crest  of  the  hills  above  the  ravine,  and  at  the  out 
let  below,  and  dismounted  skirmishers  sent  in  above  to 
sweep  the  ravine  through. 

"  A  small  party,  under  Lieutenants  Lee  and  Harrison, 
first  entered,  and  gallantly  charged  through  on  the  left 
side,  finding  the  Indians  in  the  creek  and  behind  a  breast- 


200  History  of  the 

work  of  logs,  from  which  nothing  could  be  seen  of  them 
but  their  heads  and  shoulders  as  they  raised  up  to  fire. 
Lieutenants  Eagle  and  Cosby  were  then  ordered  in  with 
parts  of  companies  'A7  and  'H,'  accompanied  by  Lieuten 
ants  Lee,  Harrison,  and  Kimmel,  with  detachments  of  their 
companies,  then  by  detachments  from  the  other  compa 
nies,  <B/  'C.'  'F,'  and  <G,5  led  by  their  officers,  and  soon 
the  engagement  became  general,  as  the  enemy's  position 
was  better  ascertained.  It  was  soon  over.  The  Caman- 
ches  fought  without  giving  or  asking  quarter  until  there 
was  not  one  left  to  bend  a  bow,  and  would  have  won  the 
admiration  of  every  brave  soldier  of  the  command  but 
for  the  intrusive  reflection  that  they  were  the  murderers 
of  the  wives  and  children  of  our  frontiersmen,  and  the 
most  wretched  of  thieves.  The  result  of  this  engagement 
has  already  been  given  you  in  the  short  report  of  the  af 
fair  written  on  the  ground  immediately  after  it  occurred. 
A  too  high  meed  of  praise  for  gallantry  and  unflinching 
courage  can  not  be  awarded  to  the  officers  and  men  who 
have  achieved  this  success  over  so  desperate  and  skillful 
a  foe.  Although  superior  in  numbers  to  the  Indians,  it 
nevertheless  required  the  coolest  and  most  undaunted  in 
dividual  bravery  to  advance  upon  the  danger  that  pre 
sented  itself  in  this  fearful  ravine — a  danger  as  imminent 
as  it  was  unseen — without  a  single  one  of  those  imme 
diate  incentives  to  chivalric  deeds — the  open  field,  the 
charge,  the  shout  of  defiance,  the  gallant  overthrow  of  an 
enemy  by  a  comrade,  the  clank,  clash,  and  glitter  of  steel 
—  without  one  of  these,  the  troops  of  this  command 
moved,  as  it  were,  into  darkness,  and,  with  a  courage  that 
challenged  admiration,  felt  for  the  danger  they  were  called 
upon  to  encounter. 


United  States  Cavalry.  201 

"Nothing  gives  me  greater  pleasure  than  in  thus  being 
able  to  call  the  attention  of  the  commanding  general  to 
their  gallantry,  and  in  testifying  to  their  good  behavior 
throughout  the  expedition.  To  the  officers  with  me  I 
am  not  only  indebted  for  the  most  hearty  assistance  in 
every  military  duty,  but  also,  without  exception,  for  their 
conspicuous  gallantry  and  energy  in  achieving  the  suc 
cesses  it  has  been  my  good  fortune  to  report  to  the  De 
partment.  They  were,  Lieutenant  Fitzhugh  Lee,  adju 
tant  to  the  expedition ;  Surgeon  James  Simons,  and  As 
sistant  Surgeon  W.  H.  Babcock,  M.D.,  on  the  staff;  and 
Captain  E.  K.  Smith,  and  Lieutenants  "W.  B.  Eoyall,  E.  K 
Eagle,  Gr.  B.  Cosby,  J.  B.  Witherell,  J.  E.  Harrison,  and  M. 
M.  Kimmel,  2d  Cavalry,  in  command  of  the  troops.  Sur 
geon  Simons  and  Assistant  Surgeon  Babcock  were  assid 
uous  in  their  attentions  to  the  wounded,  not  only  of  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  command,  but  also  of  the  Indians 
who  were  taken  prisoners." 

In  this  fight  First  Sergeant  John  "W.  Spangler,  of  com 
pany  H,  2d  Cavalry,  was  wounded,  and  was  afterward 
promoted  to  a  second  lieutenancy  in  another  regiment. 

12 


202  History  of  the 


CHAPTER  X. 

The  Cortinas  Troubles  in  Texas. — Captain  McLane  killed. — Battle  at 
Solomon's  Fork  of  the  Arkansas. — Skirmishes  with  Indians  in  1859 
and  I860.— Cortinas  Troubles  continued. — Commencement  of  the  Re 
bellion. — Twiggs's  Treason  in  Texas. — Escape  of  the  Second  Cavalry 
from  Texas. — The  Third  Regiment  of  Cavalry  added  to  the  Army, 
1861. — Its  Officers. — Resignations  among  Cavalry  Officers. — Crossing 
the  Potomac. — Cavalry  Affair  a-t  Fairfax  Court-house,  Virginia. — Bat 
tle  of  Blackburn's  Ford. — Battle  of  Bull  Run. — All  of  the  Mounted 
Regiments  consolidated  and  called  Cavalry. 

DURING  the  summer  of  1859,  General  Twiggs,  then 
commanding  the  department  of  Texas,  had  stripped  the 
Rio  Grande  frontier  of  all  its  troops.  Thus  Brownsville, 
Ringgold  Barracks,  and  Laredo,  on  the  American  side  of 
that  stream,  were  left  without  garrisons,  and,  being  on 
the  borders  of  Mexico,  where  there  is  always  a  bad  pop 
ulation,  trouble  occurred,  as  every  thinking  man  knew  it 
would.  Why  Twiggs  pursued  this  policy  is  not  known, 
but  difficulties  took  place  soon  enough,  and  the  blame  of 
the  whole  affair  may  be  properly  laid  at  his  door. 

The  troops  were  moved  into  the  interior  of  Texas,  and 
up  on  the  El  Paso  Road.  A  Mexican,  named  Cortinas, 
thinking  he  had  been  wronged  by  certain  citizens  of 
Brownsville,  crossed  from  the  Mexican  side  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  in  the  autumn  of  1859,  with  a  body  of  armed 
men,  and  committed  various  depredations,  killing  several 
citizens  of  Brownsville.  Immediately  the  whole  frontier 
was  in  a  blaze  of  excitement,  and  Twiggs  was  called  upon 


United  States  Cavalry.  203 

to  assist  the  unarmed  settlers.  There  had  been  wrong- 
on  both  sides,  American  as  well  as  Mexican,  but  that 
gave  the  latter  no  right  to  invade  our  soil.  This  was 
done,  however,  by  irresponsible  parties,  and  the  Mexican 
authorities  at  Matamoros,  opposite  Brownsville,  disclaim 
ed  all  participation  in  the  affair.  I  believe  this  was  truly 
the  case,  and  have  no  doubt  but  the  Mexican  citizens  of 
the  better  class  were  as  much  opposed  to  the  robber  band 
of  Cortinas  as  the  Americans  themselves. 

Twiggs,  seeing  that  he  had  committed  a  grave  error, 
immediately  assembled  a  force,  and  sent  it  with  all  dis 
patch  to  Brownsville,  under  command  of  Major  Heintzel- 
man,  United  States  Army.  There  was  but  one  mounted 
company  which  could  be  readily  detached ;  this  was  Cap 
tain  George  Stoneman's,  of  the  2d  Cavalry,  which  was 
sent  immediately  from  Fort  Clark.  On  the  14th  of  De 
cember,  1859,  Heintzelman  attacked  the  enemy,  who  had 
blockaded  the  main  road  not  far  from  Brownsville,  and, 
after  a  sharp  fight,  drove  them  off.  His  force  consisted 
of  Stoneman's  company,  three  companies  of  Texas  Rang 
ers,  and  three  companies  of  artillery,  serving  as  infantry, 
with  two  24-pounder  howitzers. 

Major  Heintzelman  followed  them  up,  and  again  met 
them  at  Ringgold  Barracks  with  the  same  force.  Here  a 
severe  fight  took  place,  and  the  enemy,  under  Cortinas, 
retreated  across  the  Rio  Grande  into  Mexico.  From  that 
side  he  continued  to  harass  our  people  for  some  time. 
The  closing  scenes  of  this  affair  I  will  give  as  soon  as  I 
have  given  an  account  of  several  fights  which  occurred 
in  different  portions  of  the  country  between  our  cavalry 
and  the  Indians. 


204  History  of  the 

In  November,  1859,  Major  Shepherd  had  a  fight  in 
New  Mexico  with  a  band  of  Tunicha  Navajo  Indians,  in 
which  they  were  defeated  as  usual.  Lieutenants  Da  Bois 
and  Clafljn,  of  the  Mounted  Eifles,  accompanied  the  com 
mand,  and  behaved  well.  Lieutenant  McNeill,  of  the 
Mounted  Eifles,  had  another  fight  on  the  3d  of  December 
near  Fort  Buchanan ;  and  Sergeant  McCabe,  of  the  same 
regiment,  another  on  the  4th  of  the  same  month,  both  of 
which  were  creditable. 

Captain  McLane,  with  Lieutenant  Cressey  and  forty 
men  of  the  Mounted  Eifles,  had  a  most  successful  affair 
on  the  5th  of  February,  1860.  On  the  8th  of  the  same 
month  Sergeant  McQuade  also  successfully  fought  the 
Indians ;  and  on  the  same  day,  though  in  another  local 
ity,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Andrew  Porter,  of  the  same  regi 
ment,  again  defeated  them.  The  losses  to  our  men  were 
considerable ;  and  on  the  13th  of  October,  1860,  Captain 
George  McLane,  who  had  met  the  Indians  so  often  and 
who  had  behaved  so  well,  was  killed  in  an  action  with 
the  Navajos  in  their  country.  lie  was  from  Maryland, 
had  served  with  credit  at  Contreras  and  Churubusco,  and 
was  breveted  captain  for  gallantry  at  Chapultepec. 

Major  Sedgwick,  of  the  1st  Cavalry,  had  a  fight  near 
the  Upper  Arkansas  with  a  band  of  Kiowas,  in  which 
Lieutenant  George  D.  Bayard,  of  the  same  regiment,  was 
severely  wounded.  This  occurred  on  the  llth  of  July, 
1860. 

In  Texas,  Sergeant  Patrick  Collins,  of  the  2d  Cavalry, 
fought  and  defeated  a  party  of  Camanches  on  the  14th  of 
December,  1859.  Lieutenant  Fitzhugh  Lee  defeated  an 
other  party  on  the  15th  of  January,  1860.  First  Sergeant 


United  States  Cavalry.  205 

Chapman,  of  the  same  regiment,  another  on  the  24th  of 
January ;  Sergeant  Craig,  of  the  same  regiment,  another 
on  the  27th  of  January ;  and  Captain  Eiehard  W.  John 
son,  same  regiment,  another  party  on  the  30th  of  the  same 
month.  All  of  these  were  minor  affairs,  but  still  very 
creditable  to  those  engaged. 

Major  George  H.  Thomas,  of  the  2d  Cavalry,  was  se 
verely  wounded  by  the  Indians  in  August,  1860.  He 
was  accompanied  by  Lieutenant  William  W.  Lowe,  of  the 
same  regiment,  who  took  care  of  him,  and  brought  in  the 
command  after  the  major  was  disabled. 

Captain  Samuel  D.  Sturgis,  with  six  companies  of  the 
1st  Cavalry,  had  the  most  important  Indian  fight  of  the 
year  at  Solomon's  Fork  of  the  Arkansas  Kiver,  where  he 
defeated  a  large  band  of  Camanches.  This  occurred  on 
the  3d  of  September.  The  officers  who  accompanied 
him,  all  of  whom  distinguished  themselves,  were  Assistant 
Surgeon  Charles  T.  Alexander;  Captains  Beall,  Mclntosh, 
and  Carr;  and  Lieutenants  Stockton,  Eiddick,  Church, 
Ingraham,  Lomax,  Fish,  and  Andrew  Jackson,  junior. 

First  Sergeant  Feilner,  of  the  1st  Dragoons,  had  a  se 
vere  fight  with  the  Indians  in  California,  in  which  he  sig 
nally  distinguished  himself,  in  May,  1860.  Major  Enoch 
Steen,  with  Captain  Andrew  J,  Smith's  command,  had 
several  skirmishes  with  the  Indians  in  Oregon  in  May 
and  June,  and  almost  always  succeeded  in  worsting  them. 
He  was  accompanied  by  Lieutenants  Johnson,  Fender, 
Gregg,  and  Wheeler,  of  the  same  regiment. 

This  ended  the  fighting  of  the  cavalry  with  the  Indians 
for  the  present,  as  they  were  soon  called  to  new  fields. 

To  return  to  the  Cortinas  difficulties.    General  Twiggs 


206  History  of  the 

left  Texas  on  a  furlough  in  1860,  and  soon  afterward 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Kobert  E.  Lee,  of  the  2d  Cavalry,  was 
placed  in  command  of  that  department.  In  March  of 
that  year  he  started  from  San  Antonio  to  visit  the  Eio 
Grande,  taking  as  his  escort  Captain  Brackett's  company 
of  the  2d  Cavalry  from  Camp  Yerde.  At  Eagle  Pass  he 
took  another  company  of  the  2d  Cavalry,  which  was  sta 
tioned  there  under  Lieutenant  Eagle.  He  marched  to 
Laredo,  and  thence  to  Kinggold  Barracks  (Rio  Grande 
City).  After  stopping  a  day  or  two,  he  pushed  forward 
to  Edinburgh,  opposite  Eeynosa.  He  learned  while  at 
Einggold  that  Stoneman  and  Ford  had  crossed  into  Mex 
ico,  where  they  had  had  another  fight. 

Colonel  Lee's  arrival  at  Edinburgh,  opposite  Eeynosa, 
was  most  opportune,  as  the  Mexican  soldiers  had  on  the 
morning  of  the  day  before  (April  6th,  1860)  fired  into 
Major  Ford's  Texas  Bangers  from  across  the  Eio  Grande. 
The  fire  was  returned,  and  two  Mexicans  were  severely 
wounded.  This  state  of  things,  amounting  almost  to  ac 
tual  war  between  the  two  nations,  Colonel  Lee  took  im 
mediate  measures  to  suppress  by  sending  Captain  Brack- 
ett,  with  a  white  flag,  as  bearer  of  a  peace  message  to  the 
authorities  of  Eeynosa.  Before  his  arrival  all  communi 
cation  had  ceased.  The  captain  was  ordered  to  inquire 
into  the  cause  of  the  firing  across  the  river,  and  to  direct 
some  of  Cortinas's  men,  who  were  known  to  be  in  that 
town,  to  be  delivered  up  to  the  Americans.  All  of  the 
streets  of  Eeynosa  were  barricaded,  and  loaded  cannon 
were  planted  in  front  of  the  House  of  Justice.  Four 
companies  of  Mexicans  were  under  arms  in  the  Plaza, 
and  they  expected  a  re-enforcement  of  cavalry  from  Ca- 


United  States  Cavalry.  207 

margo,  and  infantry  from  Matamoros  the  same  day.  To 
Colonel  Lee's  letter  they  replied  that  none  of  Cortinas's 
men  were  in  town,  and  that  he  had  fled  into  the  interior. 

Upon  receiving  this  reply,  Lee  went  to  Brownsville, 
and,  crossing  over  to  Matamoros,  had  a  consultation  with 
General  Garcia,  the  Mexican  commander.  With  him  he 
arranged  a  plan  for  capturing  the  outlaw  Cortinas.  In 
April,  Garcia  sent  out  a  body  of  Mexican  soldiers,  who 
fell  in  with  the  main  party  of  Cortinas's  men  near  the 
Eancho  de  Santa  Cruz,  in  the  Mexican  State  of  Tamauli- 
pas.  A  fierce  skirmish  ensued,  and  Florencio  Fernandez, 
one  of  Cortinas's  leaders,  was  shot,  and  afterward  hung. 
Francisco  Cisneros  was  taken  prisoner  and  carried  to  Mat 
amoros,  and  the  band  of  Cortinas  was  entirely  dispersed. 
He  escaped,  and  it  was  years  before  he  again  appeared  on 
the  stage. 

Two  companies  of  cavalry  were  retained  on  the  Eio 
Grande,  and  two  were  sent  to  the  interior  of  Texas  to 
guard  the  frontier  settlers.  Meantime  General  Twiggs 
had  returned  to  Texas, where  his  public  career  was  about 
to  close  in  the  most  dishonorable  manner.  He  who  had 
been  lauded  as  one  of  the  leaders  of  American  soldiery 
was  guilty  of  a  treason  blacker  than  that  which  shrouds 
the  name  of  Benedict  Arnold.  True  to  his  Jewish  in 
stincts,  he  betrayed  his  master  for  gold,  and  his  name  has 
gone  down  to  posterity  loathed  by  all  good  and  honest 
men.  He  is  well  styled  "  Twiggs  the  Traitor."  How  a 
man  who  had  occupied  his  position,  and  had  received  so 
many  favors  from  the  federal  government,  could  have 
acted  in  the  manner  he  did  is  a  mystery,  and  will  ever 
remain  so. 


208  History  of  the 

The  Act  of  Secession  was  passed  by  the  Convention  of 
Texas  after  that  of  South  Carolina,  and  Twiggs  gave  his 
aid  to  every  thing  that  was  done  by  that  body.  Some 
good  men  in  the  Northern  States  have  always  said  they 
did  not  understand  why  the  soldiery  of  Texas  should 
have  delivered  up  their  horses,  etc.,  to  the  Texans.  The 
answer  is  this :  If  they  had  had  a  true  and  reliable  com 
manding  officer,  they  no  doubt  could  have  made  their 
way  to  the  Red  River,  and  thus  have  made  their  escape  j 
but,  unfortunately,  their  general  was  a  most  villainous 
traitor,  and  against  this  the  best  efforts  of  men  in  inferior 
grades  availed  nothing.  Twiggs  had  scattered  the  troops 
far  and  wide ;  he  had  decreased  the  amount  of  their  trans 
portation  and  supplies ;  and  against  this  no  man  or  set  of 
men  could  do  any  thing.  The  depot  at  San  Antonio  was 
given  up  to  McCulloch  and  his  minions,  and  several  men 
who  had  fattened  at  government  expense  joined  in  the 
conspiracy. 

Twiggs  was  dismissed,  and  the  old  man's  gray  hairs 
bowed  with  infamy.  Waite  took  command,  but  it  was 
too  late,  and  all  this  just  and  good  man  could  do  amount 
ed  to  nothing.  The  2d  Cavalry,  which  for  years  past  had 
protected  the  frontier  settlers,  was  about  to  be  driven  out 
of  the  country,  and  its  chief  officers  joined  with  alacrity 
the  Southern  cause.  One  of  the  most  painful  pictures  of 
this  dreary  scene  was  the  return  of  Yan  Dorn  with  com 
missions  from  his  master,  Jeff.  Davis,  to  such  officers  as 
would  join  the  rebel  cause.  Thank  heaven,  he  gained 
none,  and  left  camp  thoroughly  dispirited.  He  had 
joined  the  secession  cause  at  once,  and  had  boasted  that 
he  could  take  the  regiment  with  him ;  but  he  discov- 


United  States  Cavalry.  209 

ered  his  error,  and  went  away  a  sadder  though  not  a  bet 
ter  man. 

The  regiment  assembled  at  Green  Lake,  thirty  miles 
from  the  Gulf  coast,  and  thence  six  companies  left  in 
March  for  "the  States."  They  marched  to  Indianola, 
the  officers  who  were  true  having  abandoned  their  prop 
erty,  which  they  had  been  years  in  accumulating,  and 
there,  taking  steam-ships,  left  the  inhospitable  shores.  It 
was  a  dreary  scene,  and  one  which  called  up  many  bitter 
reproaches  against  the  Texans.  The  best  years  of  many 
of  the  officers  and  men  had  been  given  to  Texas,  to  shield 
her  frontier  settlements  from  the  wrath  of  the  Indian 
warriors.  Some  were  suffering  from  wounds  received  in 
that  service,  and  all  felt  the  gloom  which  must  pervade 
the  earth  on  the  last  day.  Discarded  by  those  who  ought 
to  have  been  their  friends  by  all  laws  of  justice  and  right, 
they  turned  their  faces  sorrowfully  toward  the  North. 
The  dearly -loved  plains  were  left  behind,  the  bright 
skies  and  balmy  atmosphere  were  changed  for  the  cool 
breezes  of  Northern  climes,  and  all  the  grounds  hallowed 
by  the  blood  of  comrades  were  left  in  possession  of  those 
who  had  polluted  our  flag  and  set  at  naught  our  glorious 
Union.  Kejected  by  those  who  ought  to  have  loved 
them — borne  down  by  those  who  ought  to  have  cher 
ished  them,  they  still  clung  to  the  dearly-loved  symbol 
of  all  that  is  dear  to  liberty  and  the  human  race  on  this 
continent.  May  they  receive  their  reward ! 

The  six  companies  which  left  first  embarked  on  ship 
board  at  Indianola,  and  went  thence  to  Florida,  thence  to 
Cuba,  and  thence  to  New  York  City,  where,  stopping  only 
one  night,  they  went  to  Carlisle  Barracks,  in  Pennsylva- 


210  History  of  the 

nia.  Two  companies  were  sent  to  Washington,  and  the 
other  four,  under  Major  Thomas,  followed  overland  in  a 
few  days.  Palmer,  Stoneman,  Brackett,  Jenifer,  Cham- 
bliss,  Harrison,  and  Kimmel,  came  out  first,  with  six  com 
panies,  and  were  followed  by  Whiting,  Johnson,  Lowe, 
and  Porter,  with  the  other  four.  After  refitting,  the  lat 
ter  four  joined  the  army  under  General  Patterson. 

Never  before,  since  the  dawn  of  the  Kepubiic,  had  a 
body  of  United  States  Cavalry  been  in  the  harbor  of  New 
York,  and  the  appearance  of  the  men  and  officers  gave 
rise  to  many  singular  remarks  from  the  money-loving 
people  of  that  city. 

Many  cavalry  officers  had  by  this  time  resigned,  others 
were  on  the  point  of  doing  so,  and  all  good  fellowship  and 
confidence  in  one  another  had  disappeared.  Sumter  fell 
before  the  cowardly  fire  of  the  South  Carolinians,  who 
had  arrayed  an  army  of  fifteen  thousand  men  against  a 
brave  little  band  of  ninety  United  States  soldiers,  and  the 
rebellion  was  begun  in  earnest.  Without  waiting  for 
Congress  to  assemble,  President  Lincoln  ordered  the  reg 
ular  army  to  be  increased,  and  called  out  a  body  of  vol 
unteers. 

By  this  order,  another  regular  cavalry  regiment,  the 
3d,  was  added  to  the  army. 

David  Hunter  was  appointed  colonel.  He  was  a  na 
tive  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  had  graduated  at  West 
Point,  served  some  time  in  the  1st  Infantry,  and  was  ap 
pointed  captain  in  the  1st  regiment  of  Dragoons  in  March, 
1833 ;  he  resigned  in  July,  1836,  and  was  reappointed 
from  Illinois,  as  paymaster,  in  March,  1842.  He  was 
serving  in  that  grade  when  appointed  colonel,  on  the  14th 


United  States  Cavalry.  211 

of  May,  1861.  Hunter  is  one  of  the  most  amiable  and 
upright  of  men ;  he  is  a  good  soldier,  and  has  won  a  high 
reputation  for  daring  and  skill,  which  is  justly  his  due. 

William  H.  Emory,  who  had  just  resigned  from  the  1st 
Cavalry,  was  appointed  lieutenant  colonel. 

Edward  H.  Wright,  of  Maryland,  a  citizen,  was  appoint 
ed  senior  major.  He  served  some  time  on  the  staff  of  the 
general-in-chief,  and  resigned  in  1863.  The  next  major 
was  James  H.  Carlton,  then  captain  in  the  1st  Dragoons. 
He  had  served  with  credit  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  was 
breveted  major  for  gallantry  at  Buena  Vista.  The  junior 
major  was  Lawrence  A.  Williams,  who  was  promoted 
from  a  captaincy  in  the  10th  Infantry.  ^ 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  of  the  1st  Cav 
alry,  was  promoted  quarter-master  general,  and  shortly 
afterward  resigned.  Of  the  colonels  of  the  five  old  cav 
alry  regiments  four  had  resigned,  *viz.,  Fauntleroy,  of  the 
1st  Dragoons,  Loring,  of  the  Mounted  Eiflemen,  Eobert 
E.  Lee,  of  the  1st  Cavalry,  and  Albert  Sidney  Johnston, 
of  the  2d  Cavalry.  All  of  them  joined  the  rebels. 

Colonel  Sumner,  of  the  1st  Cavalry,  had  been  promoted 
brigadier  general  on  the  16th  of  March,  1861  (in  place  of 
Twiggs,  dismissed),  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Eobert  E.  Lee 
had  been  promoted  in  his  place.  The  sad  record  given 
above  was  increased  by  the  resignation  of  several  other 
cavalry  field-officers.  They  were  Brevet  Colonel  May ; 
Lieut.  Cols.  Crittenden,  Emory,  and  Hardee :  Majors  Van 
Dorn,  Kirby  Smith,  and  Sibley  —  all  of  whom,  except 
May  and  Emory,  have  attained  high  rank  in  the  South. 

When  our  army  crossed  the  Potomac  Eiver  from 
Washington,  in  May,  1861,  there  were  but  three  compa- 


212  History  of  the 

nies  of  cavalry  with.  it.  One,  under  Major  Stoneman, 
went  to  Alexandria  *  another,  under  Captain  Brackett,  to 
Arlington ;  and  the  third,  under  Lieutenant  Tompkins, 
went  across  the  Chain  Bridge,  and  was  stationed  at  Fort 
Corcoran.  They  all  belonged  to  the  2d  regiment,  and 
continued  to  occupy  these  positions  until  our  forces 
moved  on  to  Bull  Kun. 

Lieutenant  Tompkins,  with  his  company,  made' a  night 
march  to  Fairfax  Court-house,  where  he  had  a  spirited 
skirmish  with  the  enemy,  and,  it  being  the  first  cavalry 
fight  which  occurred  in  the  Eastern  States,  he  gained  a 
good  deal  of  credit.  It  was  a  daring  feat,  and  was  well 

executed. 

• 

It  seems  strange  now  to  look  back  to  that  period  and 
see  what  a  prejudice  there  was  against  the  raising  of  any 
more  cavalry.  It  was  considered,  and  is;  in  fact,  an  ex 
pensive  arm  of  the  service ;  but  this  gave  those  in  power 
no  right  to  ignore  it  altogether,  and  a  severe  lesson  which 
they  and  the  country  received  a  few  days  afterward 
taught  them  that  they  must  have  cavalry,  and  plenty 
of  it. 

When  the  army  left  Arlington  Heights  and  therea 
bouts,  it  had  seven  companies  of  cavalry  and  no  more. 
People  years  hence  will  hardly  believe  this,  but  it  is,  nev 
ertheless,  strictly  true.  There  were  two  companies  of  the 
1st  regiment,  four  of  the  2d,  and  one  company 'of  the  2d 
Dragoons,  under  Major  Palmer.  Two  companies  of  the 
2d  Cavalry  were  left  in  Washington. 

Upon  reaching  Blackburn's  Ford,  on  the  18th  of  July, 
1861,  Major  Palmer  detached  two  companies  of  the  2d 
Cavalry,  under  Captain  Brackett,  to  go  forward  with 


United  States  Cavalry.  213 

Brigadier  General  Tyler  and  assist  him  in  making  a  re- 
connoissance.  Tyler  had  some  infantry  with  him,  who 
were  thrown  out  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  road  as  skir 
mishers.  Upon  nearing  Bull  Kun,  the  enemy  was  dis 
covered  in  small  numbers  on  this  side  of  that  stream,  and 
as  our  infantry  advanced  they  retired.  Tyler  halted 
upon  the  crest  of  a  hill  which  overlooks  the  valley  of 
Bull  Kun,  and,  by  the  aid  of  glasses,  discovered  a  consid 
erable  force  of  cavalry  on  the  other  side  of  the  stream 
well  to  the  left,  and  perhaps  two  miles  distant.  Not  be 
ing  able  as  yet  to  ascertain  any  thing  positive  as  to  the 
position  or  strength  of  the  enemy,  Tyler  sent  back  an  or 
der  to  have  two  twenty-pounder  rifled  guns  brought  up, 
under  Lieutenant  Benjamin.  They  were  placed  in  bat 
tery  on  the  right  of  the  road,  and  opened  fire  upon  the 
cavalry,  which  was  seen  on  the  distant  hills. 

After  firing  six  or  seven  shots,  the  enemy  blazed  away 
with  a  battery  which  was  directly  in  front,  and,  after  one 
or  two  rounds,  ceased  firing.  Tyler  then  ordered  a  sec 
tion  of  Ayres's  Battery  forward  (it  having  come  up  in 
the  mean  time),  supported  by  the  cavalry.  Ayres  went 
forward  himself  with  two  twelve-pounder  howitzers,  and 
Brackett's  squadron  accompanied  him.  After  getting 
into  the  timber,  and  very  close  to  the  enemy,  Ayres 
opened  fire,  and  the  banks  of  the  Run  on  the  other  side 
being  lined  with  troops,  their  loss  was  considerable. 

The  artillery  was  plied  until  the  ammunition  was  ex 
pended,  when  Ayres  and  the  cavalry  moved  back  again 
to  the  top  of  the  hill.  During  this  time  the  enemy  had 
kept  up  a  fierce  fire  of  artillery  and  small-arms,  by  which 
several  of  the  artillery  and  cavalry  men  and  horses  were 


214  History  of  the 

killed  and  wounded.  Lieutenant  Loraine,  of  the  artil 
lery,  was  severely  wounded  in  the  foot.  Upon  reaching 
the  crest  of  the  hill  the  remaining  pieces  of  Ayres's  Bat 
tery  commenced  firing,  and  continued  until  sunset. 

What  General  Tyler's  object  was  has  never  been  en 
tirely  clear.  He  knew  as  much  about  the  enemy's 
strength  after  firing  fifteen  minutes  as  he  did  after  firing 
three  hours ;  anjd,  as  it  was  only  intended  that  he  should 
feel  the  enemy,  he  ought  to  have  ceased  firing  long  be 
fore  he  did.  Beauregard's  report  of  the  fight  is  simply 
ridiculous.  He  tries  to  make  out  a  great  battle  and  a 
great  victory,  when  in  truth  it  was  neither.  Ayres's 
fighting  in  the  woods  was  bloody,  and  that  is  pretty 
much  all  there  was  of  it ;  but  it  is  fair  to  say  that  Rich 
ardson  and  his  Michigan  men  fought  most  gallantly,  and 
were  well  sustained  by  the  Massachusetts  men,  who  on 
this  occasion  evinced  the  most  determined  pluck. 

Brackett's  cavalrymen  behaved  well,  and  Lieutenant 
Drummond,  of  the  2d,  and  Spangler  and  McClellan,  of 
the  3d,  who  were  with  him,  manifested  the  greatest  cool 
ness  and  bravery. 

About  dusk  the  different  corps  returned  to  Centreville, 
and  there  passed  the  night.  The  cavalry  rejoined  Pal 
mer,  and,  on  the  morning  of  the  19th,  Brackett's  com 
pany  was  detailed  as  General  McDowell's  escort.  Cap 
tain  Lowe's  company,  of  the  2d  Cavalry,  was  sent  to  Col 
onel  Heintzelman,  commanding  a  division ;  Captain  Arm 
strong's  company,  of  the  2d  Dragoons,  to  Colonel  Hun 
ter,  also  commanding  a  division;  and  the  remaining  four 
companies,  under  Major  Palmer,  were  attached  to  Col 
onel  Andrew  Porter's  brigade,  of  Hunter's  division. 


United  States  Cavalry.  215 

The  army  lay  in  and  about  Centreville  until  about  two 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  21st  of  July,  1861,  when 
all  of  the  command  moved  toward  Bull  Eun,  with  the 
exception  of  Blenker's  brigade,  which  remained  at  Cen 
treville,  and  was  never  within  five  miles  of  the  field ;  and 
Kichardson's  brigade  still  occupied  a  position  in  front  of 
Blackburn's  Ford. 

Hunter's  division  led  the  way,  followed  by  Heintzel- 
man's.  On  the  road  leading  to  the  Stone  Bridge,  down 
which  Tyler's  men  had  gone,  the  two  divisions  first  named 
turned  to  the  right  through  a  new  road  which  had  been 
cut,  and  McDowell,  with  his  staff,  halted  near  a  black 
smith's  shop,  where  our  troops  left  the  main  road.  It 
was  now  past  daylight,  and  the  morning  rapidly  wore 
away.  McDowell  was  anxious  and  uneasy,  and,  after 
waiting  a  suitable  length  of  time,  kept  saying,  "  Why 
don't  Hunter  commence?  what  can  be  delaying  him?" 
In  the  mean  time  a  heavy  rifled  thirty -pounder,  which 
Tyler  had  taken  with  him  down  to  the  Stone  Bridge, 
commenced  firing,  in  order  to  attract  the  attention  of  the 
enemy.  Hunter  met  with  many  obstacles ;  his  march  was 
necessarily  slow ;  when  at  last  McDowell,  losing  patience, 
started  on  with  his  escort  to  see  what  detained  him. 
McDowell  passed  the  divisions  of  Heintzelman  and  Hun 
ter,  and,  after  crossing  Bull  Eun,  was  the  first  man,  with 
his  escort,  on  the  field  of  Manassas.  "  There  is  the  ene 
my,"  said  he,  as  a  regiment  of  rebel  troops  moved  out  on 
the  plain  in  splendid  order,  and  poured  into  his  staff  and 
escort  two  or  three  rounds  of  musketry,  which  knocked 
the  dust  about  the  horses,  and  wounded  some  of  them. 
At  this  moment  Burnside's  brave  fellows  from  Ehode 


216  History  of  the 

Island,  being  the  leading  brigade  of  Hunter's  division, 
came  on  the  field,  and,  forming  in  fine  order,  went  stead 
ily  at  their  work.  This  had  been  going  on  but  a  short 
time  when  Colonel  Hunter,  of  the  3d  Cavalry,  command 
ing  division,  was  severely  wounded,  and  was  carried  off 
the  field.  Palmer,  with  the  cavalry,  moved  well  over  to 
the  right,  leaving  Brackett's  and  Armstrong's  companies 
in  a  skirt  of  timber,  which  protected  them  from  the  ene 
my's  cannon-balls,  though  they  were  in  direct  range,  and 
the  shot  tore  through  the  trees  and  knocked  up  the  dirt 
about  them  in  the  most  approved  style.  The  fighting 
was  now  going  on  in  earnest,  and  the  enemy  was  being 
steadily  driven  back.  Some  regiments  did  not  move  up 
as  promptly  as  they  ought  to  have  done,  they  being  three 
months'  men,  and  their  term  of  service  having  expired  on 
the  day  of  the  battle ;  but,  as  a  general  thing,  they  did 
well  for  troops  who  were  then  for  the  first  time  under 
fire. 

All  of  the  cavalry  was  now  concentrated  on  the  right, 
where  by  their  steadiness  they  did  much  toward  giving 
confidence  to  the  raw  troops  who  surrounded  them. 
They  were  kept  in  front  of  the  enemy's  fire,  and  showed 
their  training  by  behaving  in  the  most  cool  and  determ 
ined  manner.  The  cannon-shot  and  shells  of  the  enemy 
fell  among  them,  killing  and  wounding  several  men  and 
horses ;  but  they  kept  their  places,  though  unable  to  re 
turn  the  fire,  in  a  position  which  was  calculated  to  test 
the  nerves  of  any  man. 

A  lull  succeeded,  and  the  enemy  appeared  to  be  giving 
way ;  but  the  re-enforcements  of  the  rebels  arrived,  under 
Kirby  Smith,  and  made  a  most  vigorous  onslaught  on 


United  States  Cavalry.  217 

our  men.  The  volunteers  retired.  Their  officers  again 
coaxed  them  to  reform,  and  again  they  moved  up  to  the 
murderous  work ;  the  whole  hill-side  appeared  a  blazing 
sheet  of  fire,  and  the  shot  from  the  "Washington  Battery, 
which  was  behind  the  Confederate  line,  dropped  their 
shells  thick  and  fast  among  our  men.  It  is  a  question 
whether  the  same  number  of  any  troops,  however  good, 
could  have  carried  that  hill  against  the  overpowering 
numbers  of  the  enemy.  Our  men  were  forced  to  give 
way,  and  retired  sullenly  from  the  field.  Away  to  the 
rear  there  was  a  scene  of  dreadful  confusion,  though  the 
soldiers,  who  had  fought  most  valiantly,  did  not  partake 
of  the  panic.  They  were  broken,  it  is  true,  but  still  their 
spirits  were  good,  and  they  had  met  with  obstacles  which 
it  was  impossible  to  overcome.  As  the  infantry  left,  the 
cavalry  was  ordered  to  form  in  line  across  the  field,  to 
cause  the  enemy  to  think  that  our  army  was  still  in  good 
condition.  This  manoeuvre  had  the  desired  effect,  and 
the  enemy  halted  in  the  pursuit. 

The  cavalry  waited  until  the  infantry  had  cleared  the 
field,  when  they  were  ordered  to  leave.  Below  Sudley's 
Church  they  halted,  and  dismounted.  A  body  of  Con 
federate  cavalry  then  came  down,  but  halted  in  sight  of 
our  men.  Heintzelman  and  Porter  were  with  the  rear 
of  the  infantry  column,  the  former  being  wounded,  and 
as  soon  as  the  rebel  horsemen  halted,  they  ordered  two 
of  Arnold's  pieces  to  be  unlimbered  and  loaded  with  can 
ister.  This  was  thrown  with  tremendous  effect  among 
the  rebel  horsemen,  and  they  galloped  off  most  furiously. 
It  was  the  last  that  was  seen  of  them  on  that  portion  of 
the  field  of  Manassas. 

K 


218  History  of  the 

Keeping  in  rear  of  the  infantry  column  for  miles,  the 
cavalry  marched  slowly  along.  Our  army  had  been  beat 
en,  but  the  men  who  fought  on  the  right  had  not  lost 
their  honor.  It  was  a  sorrowful  sight,  but  enough,  and 
more  than  enough  has  been  said  about  that  retreat. 

Upon  reaching  Centreville  it  was  dark,  and  the  caval 
ry  returned  to  their  old  quarters  in  a  field  which  they 
had  occupied  before  the  battle.  Here  they  unsaddled, 
and  fed  their  horses  with  such  stuff  as  the  men  could  get, 
and  then,  using  the  saddles  for  pillows,  the  men  went  to 
sleep.  All  were  tired.  A  streaming  multitude  was  pass 
ing  along  the  road  near  by,  but  still  the  men  slept  until 
aroused  about  midnight,  and  ordered  to  saddle  up  and 
march  to  Arlington. 

They  obeyed  quietly,  and  the  next  clay  resumed  their 
old  places  on  the  hill-sides. 

The  cavalry  officers  who  were  at  Bull  Eun  were  Col 
onel  Hunter  (wounded) ;  Major  Palmer ;  Captains  Brack- 
ett,  Lowe,  Colburn,  Armstrong,  and  Harrison ;  Lieuten 
ants  Kimmel,  Sweet,  Tompkins,  Holloway,  Drummond, 
Gordon,  Leib,  Custer,  L'Hommedieu, Walker,  McCormick, 
Spangler,  McClellan,  and  McQuade,  the  latter  of  whom 
died  of  his  wounds  at  Eichmond,  Virginia. 

Lieutenant  David  S.  Gordon  was  taken  prisoner  by  the 
enemy,  as  was  Assistant  Surgeon  Charles  C.  Grey,  who 
was  serving  with  the  cavalry,  and  who  staid  back  with 
the  wounded  from  his  high  sense  of  duty. 

Shortly  after  this  battle,  Congress,  which  was  then  in 
session,  authorized  the  raising  of  five  hundred  thousand 
volunteers.  On  the  3d  of  August,  the  dragoons,  mount 
ed  riflemen,  and  cavalry  were  all  organized  into  one  arm. 


United  States  Cavalry.  219 

to  be  called  cavalry.  In  consequence  of  this,  the  1st 
Dragoons  became  the  1st  Cavalry ;  the  2d  Dragoons  be 
came  the  2d  Cavalry ;  the  Mounted  Kiflemen  became  the 
3d  Cavalry;  the  1st  Cavalry  became  the  4th  Cavalry; 
the  2d  Cavalry  became  the  5th  Cavalry ;  the  3d  Cavalry 
became  the  6th  Cavalry, 

This  changing  the  names  of  the  old  regiments  had  a 
bad  effect,  because  by  it  they  lost  the  honor  which  was 
attached  to  their  old  names,  and  which  they  had  been 
years  in  gaining.  While  these  events  were  transpiring 
in  the  Eastern  States,  the  cavalry  in  Missouri  was  doing 
well,  and  a  detachment  of  Captain  Stanley's  company  of 
the  4th  Cavalry,  at  Dug  Spring,  made  a  most  brilliant 
and  successful  charge  upon  a  large  body  of  rebels,  and 
completely  dispersed  them.  In  this  affair  Lieutenant 
Sullivan  was  severely  wounded. 


220  History  of  the 


CHAPTER  XL 

The  Battle  of  Wilson's  Creek.— The  Fight  at  Lexington,  Missouri.— 
Fredericktown. — Zagonyi's  Charge  at  Springfield. — Cavalry  Regula 
tions. — Cavalry  Regiments  to  contain  twelve  Companies. — Mill  Spring. 
— Pea  Ridge. — Valverde. — Shiloh.— Cavalry  Operations  on  the  Pen 
insula. — Williamsburg. — Gaines's  Mill. 

AT  the  battle  of  Wilson's  Creek,  in  Missouri,  fought 
August  10th,  1861,  several  cavalry  officers  gained  much 
distinction  ;  and  after  the  death  of  General  Lyon,  Major 
Sturgis,  of  the  4th  regiment,  took  command  of  the  United 
States  troops.  Captain  Granger  behaved  most  gallantly, 
as  did  Captain  Carr  and  Lieutenants  Dubois,  Sokalski, 
and  Can  field. 

Dubois  and  Canfield  served  with  the  artillery  during 
the  fight,  and  did  much  damage  to  the  enemy.  The 
Union  troops  fell  back  to  Springfield,  and  thence  to  points 
nearer  St.  Louis.  There  were  other  cavalry  operations 
in  Missouri  during  the  autumn  of  1861  which  were  of 
considerable  importance,  and  added  much  to  the  good 
reputation  of  those  concerned.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind 
that  the  enthusiasm,  for  volunteering  in  the  States  had 
reached  a  high  pitch,  and  government,  waking  from  its 
misconceived  dreams  of  needing  no  cavalry,  was  daily 
adding  new  regiments  to  its  forces ;  but  it  required  time 
to  arm  and  drill  them,  and  many  were  sent  into  the  field 
very  poorly  supplied. 

At  Lexington,  Missouri,  the  1st  Illinois  Cavalry,  under 


United  States  Cavalry.  221 

Colonel  Marshall,  after  sustaining  a  siege  of  several  days 
with  other  troops,  under  Colonel  Mulligan,  was  forced  to 
surrender  to  the  superior  numbers  of  the  enemy,  and  to 
the  fact  that  they  were  cut  off  from  the  water  by  the  Con 
federates.  The  behavior  of  these  men  was  good,  and, 
though  poorly  armed,  they  fought  as  well  as  could  have 
been  expected  of  them.  There  was  no  chance  for  any 
thing  like  cavalry  operations,  and  they  were  herded  to 
gether  within  an  inclosure  with  the  other  troops  until 
forced  to  surrender.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Day,  of  the  1st 
Illinois  Cavalry,  was  severely  wounded,  with  several  oth 
er  officers  and  men. 

This  occurred  on  the  20th  of  September,  1861. 

In  October  a  fight  occurred  at  Fredericktown,  Missou 
ri,  where  a  portion  of  the  1st  Indiana  Cavalry,  under  Col 
onel  Baker,  made  a  most  brilliant  charge  upon  the  ene 
my,  and  routed  them ;  but,  in  so  doing,  two  of  Indiana's 
worthy  sons  were  slain.  They  were  Major  Gavitt  and 
Captain  Highman.  Gavitt  headed  the  charge,  and  the 
brave  Indianians  followed.  It  was  daring,  perhaps  rash, 
but  it  was  successful,  and  the  regiment  gained  much  cred 
it.  These  two  officers  were  the  only  ones  killed  during 
the  battle. 

Meantime  General  Fremont's  army  was  making  its 
way  toward  the  western  portion  of  Missouri,  he  taking 
with  him  Major  Zagonyi's  battalion  of  cavalry  as  his 
bodyguard. 

When  near  Springfield,  the  major  formed  the  design 
of  taking  the  town,  though  his  command  numbered  not 
more  than  one  hundred  and  sixty  men. 

On  the  25th  of  October,  having  formed  his  men  near 


222  History  of  the 

where  he  knew  the  enemy  was  posted,  he  gave  the  order 
to  advance.  With  a  shout  the  men  obeyed,  and  press 
ing  their  horses  into  a  gallop,  they  turned  a  corner  of  the 
road  which  brought  them  in  sight  of  the  enemy.  There 
was  no  confusion,  and  the  men  are  said  to  have  behaved 
admirably.  The  enemy  was  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle 
near  some  woods,  their  rear  being  protected  by  under 
brush,  which  the  cavalry  could  not  enter. 

Here  the  rebels  waited  steadily  until  our  men  reached 
the  foot  of  the  hill,  when  they  poured  in  a  volley,  which 
luckily  passed  over  the  heads  of  our  cavalrymen.  Za- 
gonyi  pushed  forward  up  the  hill,  and  threw  his  men 
with  terrible  effect  upon  the  rebels,  who  broke  and  ran 
in  all  directions,  seeking  the  cover  of  the  wood. 

The  cavalry  of  the  enemy  also  gave  way  before  the 
impetuosity  of  the  charge,  and  the  Union  men  chased 
them  far  away  through  the  streets  of  Springfield.  The 
fright  of  the  enemy  is  said  to  have  been  of  the  most  ap 
palling  character.  Their  numbers  are  given  as  amount 
ing  to  twenty-two  hundred.  This  seems  almost  incredible, 
but  it  is  vouched  for  by  good  authority.  There  can  be 
no  doubt  but  it  was  a  most  splendid  charge  of  cavalry, 
and  entitles  those  engaged  in  it  to  much  credit. 

Zagonyi  took  possession  of  the  town,  hoisted  the  Union 
flag  upon  the  Court-house,  and  at  nightfall  left  to  join  the 
main  army,  his  force  not  being  strong  enough  to  run  the 
risk  of  a  night  attack.  His  loss  was  sixteen  killed  and 
twenty-five  wounded.  Among  the  wounded  were  Lieu 
tenants  Westerborg,  Yansteenkiste,  Kennedy,  and  Goff. 

Many  may  pronounce  this  rash.  No  doubt  it  was  so  ; 
but,  without  some  little  recklessness,  cavalry  can  never  accom- 


United  States  Cavalry.  223 

plisli  any  thing.  Upon  Fremont's  return  to  St.  Louis  this 
cavalry  was  disbanded,  as  it  did  not  wish  to  serve  under 
any  other  commander. 

In  1861  the  Army  Kegulations  were  revised,  and  the 
following  excellent  rules  with  regard  to  the  cavalry  serv 
ice  were  embodied  in  them.  The  Kegulations  say : 

"That  cavalry  and  infantry  do  not  march  together, 
unless  the  proximity  of  the  enemy  makes  it  necessary. 

"  In  cavalry  marches,  when  distant  from  the  enemy, 
each  regiment,  and,  if  possible,  each  squadron,  forms  a 
separate  column,  in  order  to  keep  up  the  same  gait  from 
front  to  rear,  and  to  trot,  when  desirable,  on  good  ground. 
In  such  cases  the  cavalry  may  leave  camp  later,  and  can 
give  more  rest  to  the  horses,  and  more  attention  to  the 
shoeing  and  harness.  Horses  are  not  bridled  until  the 
time  to  start. 

"  The  cavalry  should  be  distributed  in  echelon,  on  the 
wings  and  at  the  centre,  on  favorable  ground. 

"When  it  is  necessary  to  dismount  cavalry  and  send 
them  to  the  trenches,  they  should  be  employed  as  near 
their  camp  as  possible,  and  posted  between  the  detach 
ments  of  infantry. 

"Men  belonging  to  the  cavalry  may,  in  assaults,  be 
employed  in  carrying  fascines  and  other  materials  to  fill 
ditches  and  make  passages. 

"  The  general  officers  of  cavalry  are  more  particularly 
employed  in  the  service  of  posts  and  detachments  placed 
in  observation  to  protect  the  siege.  They  and  the  field 
officers  of  this  arm  are  employed  in  the  command  of  es 
corts  to  convoys  of  whatever  arms  the  escorts  may  be 
composed.  When  these  duties  are  not  sufficient  to  em- 


224  History  of  the 

ploy  them,  they  take  their  share  of  the  duty  of  the 
trenches. 

"  Mixed  brigades  are  sometimes  formed  of  infantry  and 
light  cavalry,  especially  for  the  advanced  guards. 

"  The  light  cavalry  is  employed  as  flankers  and  par 
tisans,  and  generally  for  all  service  out  of  the  line. 

"  Heavy  cavalry  belongs  to  the  reserve,  and  is  covered, 
when  necessary,  in  marches,  camps,  or  bivouacs,  by  light 
troops,  or  infantry  of  the  line. 

"  The  arrangement  of  the  troops  on  parade  and  in  or 
der  of  battle  is,  1st,  the  light  infantry ;  2d,  infantry  of  the 
line ;  3d,  light  cavalry ;  4th,  cavalry  of  the  line ;  5th, 
heavy  cavalry. 

"  In  the  cavalry,  each  troop  moves  a  little  in  rear  of 
the  point  at  which  its  horses  are  to  be  secured,  and  forms 
in  on  a  rank;  the  men  then  dismount;  a  detail  is  made 
to  hold  the  horses ;  the  rest  stack  their  arms  and  fix  the 
picket  rope.  After  the  horses  are  attended  to,  the  tents 
are  pitched,  and  each  horseman  places  his  carbine  at  the 
side  from  the  weather,  and  hangs  his  sabre  and  bridle 
on  it. 

"  Cavalry  patrols  should  examine  the  country  to  a 
greater  distance  than  infantry,  and  report  to  the  infantry 
guard  every  thing  they  observe.  The  morning  patrols 
and  scouts  do  not  return  until  broad  daylight ;  and  when 
they  return,  the  night  sentinels  are  withdrawn,  and  the 
posts  for  the  day  resumed. 

"  The  horses  of  cavalry  guards  are  watered  or  fed  by 
detachments,  during  which  the  rest  are  ready  to  mount. 

"  In  the  cavalry,  dismounted  men  are  employed  in  pref 
erence  on  the  police  guard.  The  mounted  men  on  guard 


United  States  Cavalry.  225 

are  sent  in  succession,  a  part  at  a  time,  to  groom  their 
horses.  The  advanced  post  is  always  formed  of  mounted 
men. 

"In  each  company  a  corporal  has  charge  of  the  stable- 
guard.  His  tour  begins  at  retreat,  and  ends  at  morning 
stable-call.  The  stable-guard  is  large  enough  to  relieve 
the  men  on  post  every  two  hours.  They  sleep  in  their 
tents,  and  are  called  by  the  corporal  when  wanted.  At 
retreat  he  closes  the  streets  of  the  camp  with  cords,  or 
uses  other  precautions  to  prevent  the  escape  of  loose 
horses. 

"In  the  cavalry,  horses  are  packed  for  all  mounted 
service. 

"In  the  cavalry,  dismounted  men,  and  those  whose 
horses  are  not  in  order,  are  preferred  for  the  detail  for 
dismounted  service.  Those  who  are  mounted  are  never 
employed  on  those  services  if  the  number  of  the  other 
class  are  sufficient. 

"Every  non-commissioned  officer  and  soldier  in  the 
cavalry  detailed  for  dismounted  service  must,  before  he 
marches,  take  to  the  first  sergeant  of  the  troop,  or  ser 
geant  of  his  squad,  his  horse  equipments  and  his  valise 
ready  packed.  In  case  of  alarm,  the  first  sergeant  sees 
that  the  horses  of  these  men  are  equipped  and  led  to  the 
rendezvous. 

"Cavalry  is  employed  in  escorts  chiefly  to  reconnoitre  ; 
the  proportion  is  larger  as  the  country  is  more  open." 

On  the  12th  day  of  November,  1861,  Colonel  Philip 
St.  George  Cooke,  of  the  2d  Cavalry,  was  promoted  brig 
adier  general,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Thomas  J.  Wood 
was  promoted  colonel  in  his  place.  On  the  17th  of  July, 

K2 


226  History  of  the 

1852,  the  whole  cavalry  was  organized  into  regiments  of 
twelve  companies  each,  and  three  majors  were  allowed. 
This  placed  them  on  the  same  footing  as  the  6th  Kegi- 
ment,  which  already  had  three  majors  and  twelve  com 
panies.  By  this  arrangement,  Captain  Brackett  became) 
major  of  the  1st,  Whiting  of  the  2d,  Newby  of  the  3d, 
Johnson  of  the  4th,  and  Carr  of  the  5th  Cavalry. 

The  year  1862  tended  to  develop  the  cavalry  resources 
of  our  country,  and  many  new  regiments  were  formed. 
The  different  states  seemed  to  vie  with  each  other  which 
should  send  the  greatest  number  of  regiments  into  the 
field;  the  expense  connected  with  the  maintenance  of 
this  force  caused  some  opposition  to  it  on  the  part  of 
those  in  power,  but  its  good  services  were  seen  and  ap 
preciated,  and  it  soon  became  a  favorite. 

The  first  skirmish  of  the  year  of  any  note  was  at  Sil 
ver  Creek,  in  Missouri,  on  the  8th  of  January,  where 
Majors  Torrence  and  Hubbard,  with  portions  of  the  1st 
Iowa  and  1st  Missouri  Cavalry,  defeated  and  dispersed  a 
considerable  force  of  the  enemy.  This  was  followed  on 
the  18th  of  the  same  month  by  the  Federal  success  at 
Mill  Springs,  Kentucky,  where  Major  General  George  H. 
Thomas,  Colonel  of  the  5th  United  States  Cavalry,  gained 
the  first  substantial  Union  victory  over  the  rebels  during 
the  war.  In  this  action  Colonel  Wolford's  1st  Kentucky 
Cavalry  bore  an  honorable  part,  and  the  only  commis 
sioned  officer  killed  during  the  action  belonged  to  his 
regiment.  This  was  First  Lieutenant  Kichard  Miller. 

At  the  skirmish  at  Sugar  Creek,  in  Missouri,  on  the 
17th  of  February,  the  Missouri  Cavalry  routed  the  reb 
els,  who  were  opposing  the  advance  of  General  Curtis's 


United  States  Cavalry.  227 

army,  after  a  brisk  fight.  Major  Bo  wen  and  Captain 
Switzler,  of  that  corps,  were  wounded,  as  was  Major 
McKinney,  assistant  adjutant  general  to  General  Curtis. 
At  the  battle  of  Pea  Eidge,  Arkansas,  fought  March  6th, 
7th,  and  8th,  1862,  the  wooded  nature  of  the  country  ren 
dered  cavalry  movements  difficult ;  the  loss  of  the  3d 
Illinois,  the  1st  Missouri,  and  the  8d  Iowa  was,  neverthe 
less,  quite  heavy.  Colonel  C.  A.  Ellis,  of  the  1st  Mis 
souri  Cavalry,  Lieutenant  Colonel  H.  H.  Trimble,  3d  Iowa 
Cavalry,  and  Colonel  Eugene  A.  Carr,  of  the  3d  Illinois 
Cavalry,  were  wounded.  The  latter  commanded  one  of 
the  divisions  of  Curtis's  army  during  the  fight.  Bowen's 
Missouri  Cavalry  battalion  also  did  good  service  in  this 
battle,  as  did  the  4th,  oth,  and  6th  Missouri  Cavalry  regi 
ments. 

It  is  impossible  at  this  time  to  give  the  particulars  of 
every  skirmish  in  which  the  Union  cavalry  has  been  en 
gaged  during  this  war,  as  they  are  almost  without  num 
ber  ;  and  many  of  the  accounts  given  in  the  papers  are 
unsatisfactory,  they  being  greatly  exaggerated  and  the 
details  incorrect. 

In  Virginia  our  cavalry  was  engaged  early  in  the  sea 
son,  and  on  the  7th  of  March,  Capt.  J.  P.  Wison,  of  Colo 
nel  Friedman's  regiment,  was  wounded  in  a  skirmish  near 
Fairfax  Court-house.  In  the  same  month,  Lieutenant 
Hidden,  of  the  Union  cavalry,  was  killed  by  the  enemy 
near  the  same  place. 

In  New  Mexico  the  Texans  attempted  to  invade  the 
country,  and  at  the  battle  of  Valverde,  February  21st, 
1862,  met  with  partial  success.  In  this  fight,  Captain  Al 
exander  McRae,  of  the  3d  regiment  United  States  Cav- 


228  History  of  the 

airy,  was  killed  while  gallantly  defending  himself  against 
the  rebels.  Shortly  after  this,  Major  Duncan,  of  the  same 
regiment,  was  severely  wounded  at  Galisteo,  in  that  ter 
ritory.  The  Texans  were  driven  out  with  great  loss, 
though  not  until  another  fight  had  occurred  at  Apache 
Canon,  March  27th,  in  which  First  Lieutenant  Peter  Mc- 
Grath,  of  the  6th  Cavalry,  was  mortally  wounded,  and 
died  on  the  1st  of  May. 

At  the  battle  of  Winchester,  Virginia,  fought  on  the 
23d  of  March,  the  Michigan  Cavalry,  under  Colonel 
Broadhead,  participated,  and  rendered  efficient  service; 
and  upon  taking  Island  No.  10,  in  the  Mississippi,  in 
April,  1862,  the  2d  Iowa  Cavalry  was  instrumental  in 
taking  many  prisoners  and  capturing  much  property  be 
longing  to  the  rebels,  who  had  reached  the  main  land. 

At  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  or  Shiloh,  fought 
on  the  6th  and  7th  of  April,  our  cavalry  was  unable  to 
accomplish  much,  though  it  was  under  fire  a  long  time, 
and  lost  several  men.  The  cavalry  at  that  action  con 
sisted  of  the  4th  and  llth  regiments  from  Illinois,  apd 
the  5th  Ohio.  On  the  17th  of  the  month,  General  An 
drew  J.  Smith,  chief  of  cavalry  upon  General  Halleck's 
staff,  led  a  force  of  mounted  men  out  on  the  upper  road 
leading  from  Pittsburg  Landing  to  Corinth,  Mississippi. 
This  consisted  of  the  2d  Indiana,  two  Illinois,  two  Ken 
tucky,  and  two  Ohio  cavalry  regiments.  After  march 
ing  some  distance  they  came  upon  the  outposts  of  the 
enemy,  and  soon  encountered  a  heavy  force.  After  a 
skirmish  unimportant,  so  far  as  fighting  is  concerned,  the 
force  returned  to  the  Landing;  but  Smith  ascertained 
that  the  enemy  had  fallen  back  on  Corinth,  and  had  com 
menced  fortifying  that  place. 


United  States  Cavalry.  229 

On  the  18th  of  April,  Falmouth,  opposite  Fredericks- 
burg,  Virginia,  was  occupied  by  the  forces  of  the  United 
States.  The  advance  was  disputed  by  the  enemy,  who 
were  finally  driven  across  the  Kappahannock,  though  not 
until  they  had  killed  five  and  wounded  seventeen  of  our 
cavalrymen.  Lieutenant  Decker,  of  the  Ira  Harris  New 
York  Cavalry,  was  killed.  In  the  afternoon  of  that  day 
our  troops  received  the  surrender  of  Fredericksburg. 

CAVALRY  OPERATIONS   ON  THE  PENINSULA. 

The  cavalry  which  was  sent  to  the  peninsula  of  Vir 
ginia,  in  March  and  April,  1862,  was  under  the  direction 
of  General  Stoneman,  Chief  of  Cavalry  of  General  McClel- 
lan's  army,  and  consisted  of  the  following  organizations : 

Cavalry  Reserve,  Brigadier  General  P.  ST.  G.  COOKE. 

Emory's  Brigade.  —  5th  United  States  Cavalry,  6th 
United  States  Cavalry,  6th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry. 

Blake's  Brigade. — 1st  United  States  Cavalry,  8th  Penn 
sylvania  Cavalry,  Barker's  squadron  of  Illinois  Cavalry. 

Belonging  to  General  Sumner's  Second  Corps. 
8th  Illinois  Cavalry,  Colonel  Farnsworth  ;  one  squad 
ron  6th  New  York  Cavalry. 

Belonging  to  General  Hemtzelman's  Third  Corps. 
3d  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  Colonel  Averill ;   Provost 
Guard,  the  2d  regiment  United  States  Cavalry. 

At  General  McClellaris  Head-quarters. 
Two  companies  4th  United  States  Cavalry,  and  one 
company  Oneida  (N.  Y.)  Cavalry. 


230  History  of  the 

McClellan  had  moved  out  from  Washington  across  the 
Potomac  with  his  army,  and  afterward  marched  to  Manas- 
sas ;  here  changing  his  plan  of  operations,  he  moved  down 
on  the  Peninsula  and  commenced  the  siege  of  Yorktown. 
The  cavalry  was  employed  during  the  siege  in  doing 
picket  duty,  and  was  kept  busy  until  the  morning  of  the 
4th  of  May,  when  General  McClellan  was  made  aware 
that  the  enemy  had  abandoned  their  works  at  Yorktown 
and  were  retreating  toward  Williamsburg.  He  immedi 
ately  ordered  General  Stoneman  to  follow  with  four  bat 
teries  of  horse  artillery  and  all  the  available  cavalry  force. 
Stoneman  accordingly  moved  out  with  the  1st  and  6th 
United  States  Cavalry,  the  3d  Pennsylvania,  8th  Illinois, 
and  Barker's  squadron  of  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  the  four 
horse-artillery  batteries,  and  met  with  but  little  opposi 
tion  until  he  arrived  in  front  of  the  enemy's  works  about 
Williamsburg.  At  a  point  about  eight  miles  from  York- 
town,  in  accordance  with  McClellan's  instructions,  he  de 
tached  General  Emory,  with  Benson's  Battery,  Averill's 
3d  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  and  Barker's  squadron,  to  gain 
the  Lee's  Mill  Eoad  and  endeavor  to  cut  off  the  portion  of 
the  enemy's  rear  guard  which  had  taken  that  route.  Gen 
eral  Emory  had  some  sharp  skirmishes  with  a  regiment 
of  cavalry  and  a  battery,  under  the  rebel  General  Stuart, 
and  drove  them  in  the  direction  of  Lee's  Mill,  but  they 
escaped  by  a  circuitous  route  along  the  bank  of  James 
Kiver. 

The  position  in  which  General  Stoneman  encountered 
the  enemy  is  about  four  miles  in  extent,  the  right  resting 
on  College  Creek,  and  the  left  on  Queen's  Creek,  nearly 
three  fourths  of  its  front  being  covered  by  tributaries  of 


United  States  Cavalry.  231 

those  two  creeks,  upon  which,  there  are  ponds.  The 
ground  between  the  heads  of  the  tributary  streams  is  a 
cultivated  plain,  across  which  a  line  of  detached  works 
had  been  constructed,  consisting  of  Fort  Magruder,  a  large 
work,  in  the  centre,  with  a  bastion  front,  and  twelve  oth 
er  redoubts  for  field-guns. 

General  Stoneman  debouched  from  the  woods  with  his 
advance  guard,  consisting  of  a  part  of  the  1st  United 
States  Cavalry  and  one  section  of  Gibson's  Battery,  un 
der  the  command  of  General  Cooke,  and  the  enemy  im 
mediately  opened  on  him  with  several  field-pieces  from 
Fort  Magruder,  having  the  correct  range,  and  doing  some 
execution.  Gibson's  Battery  was  brought  into  position 
as  rapidly  as  the  deep  mud  would  permit,  and  returned 
the  fire,  while  the  6th  United  States  Cavalry  was  sent  to 
feel  the  enemy's  left.  This  regiment  passed  one  redoubt, 
which  it  found  unoccupied,  and  appeared  in  the  rear  of 
the  second,  when  a  strong  cavalry  force,  with  infantry 
and  artillery,  came  down  upon  it,  whereupon  the  regi 
ment  was  withdrawn.  The  rear  squadron,  under  com 
mand  of  Captain  William  P.  Saunders,  repelled  a  charge 
of  the  enemy's  cavalry  in  the  most  gallant  manner.  In 
the  mean  time  the  enemy  was  being  re-enforced  with  in 
fantry  ;  and  the  artillery  fire  becoming  very  hot,  General 
Stoneman,  having  no  infantry  to  carry  the  works,  ordered 
the  withdrawal  of  the  battery.  The  enemy  attempted  to 
prevent  the  movement,  but  their  charges  were  met  by 
the  1st  United  States  Cavalry,  under  command  of  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel  William  N.  Grier,  and  they  were  driven 
back,  losing  several  officers  and  one  stand  of  colors.  Gen 
eral  Stoneman  then  took  up  a  defensive  position  a  short 


232  History  of  the 

distance  in  rear  of  the  first,  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  in 
fantry.  The  cavalry  remained  in  this  position  until  even 
ing,  when  the  infantry  came  up,  and  the  next  day  was 
fought  the  battle  of  Williamsburg.  The  town  was  taken 
on  the  5th,  and  Colonel  Averill  was  sent  forward  at  once 
with  a  strong  cavalry  force  to  endeavor  to  overtake  the 
enemy's  rear  guard.  He  found  several  guns  abandoned, 
and  picked  up  a  large  number  of  stragglers,  but  the  con 
dition  of  the  roads  and  the  state  of  his  supplies  forced 
him  to  return  after  advancing  a  few  miles.  In  this  bat 
tle  Lieutenant  Colonel  Grier,  of  the  1st  Cavalry,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Curwen  B.  McClellan,  of  the  6th  Cavalry,  were 
wounded,  the  latter  severely. 

A  very  dashing  and  successful  reconnoissance  was 
made  near  New  Bridge,  Virginia,  on  the  2-ith  of  May,  by 
Lieutenant  Bowen,  Topographical  Engineers,  escorted  by 
the  4th  Michigan  Volunteers,  under  Colonel  Woodbury, 
and  a  squadron  of  the  2d  United  States  Cavalry,  under 
Captain  George  A.  Gordon.  Our  troops  encountered  a 
Louisiana  regiment,  and,  with  little  loss,  drove  it  back 
upon  its  brigade,  killing  a  large  number  and  capturing 
several  prisoners.  Great  credit  is  due  to  the  staff  officers, 
as  well  as  to  Colonel  Woodbury,  Captain  Gordon,  and 
their  commands,  for  their  conduct  on  this  occasion. 

At  the  battle  of  Hanover  Court-house,  May  27th,  Cap 
tain  James  E.  Harrison,  of  the  5th  United  States  Cavalry, 
with  a  single  company,  brought  in  as  prisoners  two  en 
tire  companies  of  rebel  infantry,  with  their  arms  and  am 
munition.  A  part  of  the  6th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry 
(Rush's  Lancers)  also  captured  an  entire  company  with 
their  arms. 


>'"!""„    jfjj. 


el 


United  States  Cavalry.  235 

On  the  28th,  a  party  under  Major  Williams,  6th  United 
States  Cavalry,  destroyed  the  common  road  bridges  over 
the  Pamunkey,  and  the  Virginia  Central  Eailroad  bridge 
over  the  South  Anna,  On  the  29th  he  destroyed  the 
Fredericksburg  and  Kichmond  Eailroad  bridge  over  the 
South  Anna,  and  the  turnpike  bridge  over  that  stream. 
On  the  same  day,  and  mainly  to  cover  the  movement  of 
Major  Williams,  General  Emory  moved  a  column  of  cav 
alry  toward  Ashland  from  Hanover  Court-house.  The 
advance  of  this  column,  under  Captain  William  P,  Cham- 
bliss,  5th  United  States  Cavalry,  entered  Ashland,  driving- 
out  a  party  of  the  enemy,  destroyed  the  railroad  bridge 
over  Stony  Creek,  and  broke  up  the  railroad  and  tele 
graph.  General  Stoneman  on  the  same  day  moved  on 
Ashland  by  Leach's  Station,  covering  well  the  move 
ments  of  the  other  columns. 

On  the  13th  of  June  two  squadrons  of  the  5th  United 
States  Cavalry,  under  command  of  Captain  William  B. 
Eoyall,  stationed  near  Hanover  Old  Church,  were  attack 
ed  and  overpowered  by  a  force  of  the  enemy's  cavalry, 
numbering  about  fifteen  hundred  men,  with  four  guns. 
In  this  affair  Captain  Eoyall  was  very  severely  wounded. 

At  the  battle  of  Gaines's  Mill,  June  27th,  1862,  two 
squadrons  of  the  1st  regular  Cavalry,  five  companies  of 
the  5th  United  States  Cavalry,  and  three  squadrons  of 
the  6th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  were  under  command  of 
General  P.  St.  George  Cooke.  They  were  ordered  to 
make,  and  did  make,  a  most  unfortunate  charge,  in  which 
First  Lieutenant  John  J.  Sweet,  5th  United  States  Cav 
alry,  was  killed,  and  First  Lieutenant  Eobert  Allen,  jun 
ior,  1st  United  States  Cavalry,  was  mortally  wounded. 


i 

236  History  of  the 

The  loss  to  the  cavalry  in  the  ".  Seven  Days'  Battles," 
from  June  26th  to  July  1st,  1863,  was  nineteen  killed, 
sixty  wounded,  and  ninety-seven  missing,  making  a  total 
of  one  hundred  and  seventy-six.  Captain  Charnbliss  was 
among  the  severely  wounded. 

On  the  30th  of  August  the  command  of  the  army  in 
the  field  passed  from  the  hands  of  General  McClellan  to 
those  of  Major  General  John  Pope. 

On  the  8th  of  May  four  companies  of  the  7th  Illinois 
Cavalry,  under  command  of  Major  Applington,  when  re 
connoitring  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  Corinth,  Missis 
sippi,  discovered  two  rebel  regiments  of  infantry  in  posi 
tion  on  both  sides  of  the  road.  Major  Applington  gal 
lantly  charged  upon  them,  but  fell  pierced  by  a  ball 
through  the  brain.  Four  of  his  men  were  wounded.  The 
rebels  lost  thirty  killed  and  wounded,  and  four  prisoners. 

Colonel  Philip  H.  Sheridan,  of  the  Second  Michigan 
Cavalry,  in  command  of  a  body  of  Union  troops,  had  a 
spirited  action  with  the  enemy  at  Booneville,  Mississippi, 
on  the  1st  of  July,  1862.  The  enemy  consisted  of  parts 
of  eight  regiments  of  cavalry,  numbering  about  four  thou 
sand  seven  hundred  men,  under  General  Chalmers.  Aft 
er  skirmishing  with  them  for  some  time,  Sheridan  suc 
ceeded  in  getting  a  portion  of  his  men  in  their  rear,  when 
they  retreated,  and  were  followed  some  distance.  The 
loss  to  Sheridan  was  forty-one  killed,  wounded,  and  miss 
ing,  while  that  of  the  enemy  was  about  the  same. 


United  States  Cavalry.  237 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Fight  at  Lebanon,  Tennessee. — Curtis's  March  through  Arkansas. — Fight 
at  the  Waddell  Farm. — Fight  at  Stewart's  Plantation. — Fight  at  Cache 
River. — Fight  at  Jasper,  Tennessee. — Guerrilla  Skirmish  at  Memphis, 
Missouri. — The  Cavalry  under  General  Pope. — South  Mountain. — 
Antietam. — General  Sedgwick  wounded. — Harper's  Ferry. — luka. — 
Skirmishes. — Lieutenant  Colonel  Hogg  killed. 

ON  the  5th  of  May,  Brigadier  General  Dumont  fought 
and  defeated  a  considerable  body  of  rebels  at  Lebanon, 
Tennessee.  He  says,  in  his  dispatch :  "I  surprised  and 
attacked  the  enemy,  under  Colonels  Morgan  and  "Wood, 
this  morning  at  four  o'clock  at  this  place,  and,  after  a 
hard-fought  battle  of  one  and  a  half  hours,  and  a  running 
fight  of  eighteen  miles  in  pursuit,  achieved  a  complete 
and  substantial  victory.  My  force  was  about  six  hund 
red,  composed  of  detachments  from  Colonel  Wynkoop's 
7th  Pennsylvania,  Colonel  G.  Clay  Smith's  5th,  and  Col 
onel  Wolford's  1st  Kentucky  Cavalry ;  that  of  the  ene 
my,  as  stated  by  himself,  upward  of  eight  hundred.  Be 
sides  which,  the  disloyal  inhabitants  not  in  the  army  open 
ed  a  murderous  fire  on  our  soldiers  from  their  houses,  and 
kept  it  up  until  all  the  organized  forces  of  the  enemy  had 
fled,  or  were  slain  or  captured. 

"The  forces  on  either  side  were  exclusively  mounted. 
I  captured  say  one  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners,  among 
whom  is  Lieutenant  Colonel  R  C.  Wood,  three  captains, 
four  lieutenants,  and  upward  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 


238  History  of  the 

horses,  and  one  hundred  stand  of  arms.  Our  killed  will 
not  exceed  six,  and  our  wounded  twenty -five.  Among 
the  latter  are  Colonels  G.  Clay  Smith  and  Frank  Wol- 
ford,  the  former  in  the  leg,  the  latter  in  the  abdomen. 
We  lost  no  prisoners  except  Major  Givan,  7th  Pennsyl 
vania  Cavalry,  who  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  dur 
ing  the  street  fight  by  mistaking  them  for  our  troops. 

"In  this  affair  intrepidity  and  personal  daring  were 
conspicuous  throughout/' 

"While  General  Pope's  command  was  at  Farmington, 
Mississippi,  on  the  9th  of  May,  the  2d  regiment  of  Iowa 
Cavalry,  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Edward 
Hatch,  made  a  most  wild  and  reckless  charge  upon  the 
enemy  by  order  of  Brigadier  General  E.  A.  Paine.  The 
regiment  fell  upon  the  rebels  with  their  sabres,  and  did 
some  execution,  but  were  forced  to  retire  with  a  loss  of 
about  fifty  officers  and  men  killed  and  wounded. 

This  was  the  main  event  of  the  battle,  and  General 
Pope  withdrew  his  forces  to  the  north  side  of  a  creek,  as 
Major  General  Halleck,  who  was  commander-in-chief,  did 
not  at  that  time  wish  to  bring  on  a  general  engagement 
with  the  enemy. 

This  regiment,  with  a  battalion  of  the  2d  Michigan 
Cavalry,  under  command  of  Colonel  W.  L.  Elliott,  2d 
Iowa  Cavalry,  made  a  successful  expedition  on  the  28th 
of  May  in  rear  of  Corinth,  where  a  large  quantity  of  stores 
belonging  to  the  enemy  were  destroyed,  and  the  track  of 
the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Eailroad  was  torn  up  in  many  places. 
He  burned  several  cars  containing  small  arms,  and  de 
stroyed  three  pieces  of  artillery. 

After  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  General  Curtis  marched 


United  States  Cavalry.  239 

through  Arkansas  to  Batesville,  and  was  there  joined  by 
Brigadier  General  Steele's  division,  which  had  marched 
through  from  Pilot  Knob,  Missouri,  via  Pittman's  Ferry, 
Pocahontas,  and  Jacksonport.  Colonel  Albert  GL  Brack- 
ett,  with  the  9th  regiment  of  Illinois  Cavalry,  was  left  at 
the  junction  of  the  Black  and  White  Eivers,  opposite 
Jacksonport,  Arkansas,  with  orders  to  patrol  the  country 
and  keep  it  in  order.  On  the  12th  of  June  he  sent  a 
train  of  wagons  across  Black  Eiver  for  the  purpose  of 
obtaining  forage  for  his  horses,  and  sent  a  battalion  of  his 
regiment,  under  Major  Humphrey,  to  guard  it.  When 
about  four  miles  below  Jacksonport,  the  train  was  at 
tacked  by  a  large  body  of  rebels,  commanded  by  the  no 
torious  Hooker.  Major  Humphrey  lost  several  of  his 
men  wounded,  and,  halting  his  train  near  the  Waddell 
Farm,  sent  back  for  re-enforcements.  In  a  short  time 
Colonel  Brackett  arrived,  bringing  with  him  two  more 
companies  of  his  regiment ;  also  two  small  howitzers,  and 
two  companies  of  Bo  wen's  Missouri  Cavalry  Battalion. 
Leaving  one  company  to  guard  the  train,  and  placing  the 
two  howitzers  in  the  road,  guarded  by  the  Missouri  Cav 
alry,  under  Captain  Williams  and  Lieutenant  Ballou,  he 
formed  the  Illinois  Cavalry  in  line  of  battle  in  a  cotton- 
field.  While  these  preparations  were  going  on,  the  reb 
els,  who  were  in  line  in  front,  were  indulging  in  various 
playful  epithets  regarding  the  Union  troops,  and  occa 
sionally  sending  a  shot  over  to  remind  us  that  they  "  still 
lived."  Every  thing  being  in  readiness,  Colonel  Brack 
ett  sent  a  couple  of  shells  from  the  howitzers  over  toward 
them,  and  at  the  same  time  the  Illinoisans  galloped  into 
them  with  drawn  sabres.  The  result  may  be  easily  im- 


240  History  of  the 

agined.  Hooker's  troops  put  spurs  to  their  horses,  and 
did  some  of  that  lofty  running  which  is  peculiar  to  But 
ternut  horsemen.  They  were  chased  through  fields  and 
woods  to  Village  Creek,  which  the  rebels  cleared  at  once, 
and  sought  safety  in  the  dark  cypress  swamps. 

During  the  fight  the  cotton-gin  was  fired,  as  well  as 
the  store-house,  in  which  there  was  an  immense  number 
of  cotton  bales,  and  they  were  soon  destroyed.  In  the 
morning  this  was  one  of  the  finest  plantations  in  Arkan 
sas  ;  at  evening  it  was  a  mass  of  ruins.  The  loss  to  the 
9th  Illinois  Cavalry  was  twelve  wounded  and  one  taken 
prisoner  by  the  enemy.  The  rebels  lost  twenty-eight 
killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners.  The  train  was  saved," 
and  was  carried  back  to  camp  filled  with  rebel  produce. 

Shortly  after  this  event,  the  Army  of  Arkansas,  under 
Major  General  Curtis,  left  Batesville  on  its  way  to  the 
Mississippi  Eiver,  whither  it  had  become  necessary  for 
him  to  move  in  order  to  obtain  supplies.  He  had  a  fine 
army,  the  cavalry  portion  of  which  was  made  up  of  the 
following  regiments,  viz. :  1st  Indiana  Cavalry,  Colonel 
Conrad  Baker ;  3d  Illinois  Cavalry,  Colonel  Eugene  A. 
Carr;  5th  Illinois  Cavalry,  Colonel  J.  Hall  Wilson  ;  9th 
Illinois  Cavalry,  Colonel  Albert  G.  Brackett ;  13th  Illi 
nois  Cavalry,  Colonel  Joseph  W.  Bell ;  1st  Missouri  Cav 
alry,  Colonel  C.  A.  Ellis  ;  4th  Missouri  Cavalry,  Colonel 
George  E.  Waring,  Jr. ;  5th  Missouri  Cavalry,  Colonel 
Joseph  Nemitt ;  Missouri  Cavalry  Battalion,  Major  Wil 
liam  D.  Bowen ;  2d  Wisconsin  Cavalry,  Colonel  C.  C. 
Washburne ;  3d  Iowa  Cavalry,  Colonel  Cyrus  Bussey ; 
4th  Iowa  Cavalry,  Colonel  Asbury  B.  Porter ;  5th  Kan 
sas  Cavalry,  Colonel  Powell  Clayton. 


United  States  Cavalry. 

It  required  an  immense  deal  of  forage  to  do  the  ani 
mals  of  these  regiments,  besides  those  of  the  artillery  and 
the  heavy  baggage- train ;  and  in  a  new  country  like  Ar 
kansas,  where  only  a  small  portion  of  the  land  is  under 
cultivation,  this  was  difficult  to  obtain ;  consequently,  on 
the  march,  the  horses  suffered  terribly. 

Curtis's  army  moved  down  from  Batesville,  and  cross 
ed  White  Eiver  on  a  pontoon  bridge.  He  halted  a  short 
time  in  Jacksonport,  expecting  the  arrival  of  steam-boats 
from  the  Mississippi  River  via  the  White  River,  as  Mem 
phis  had  fallen  into  our  hands,  and  the  navigation  of  the 
Mississippi  was  unimpeded  as  low  down  as  the  mouth  of 
White  River,  or  even  to  Yicksburg.  While  the  troops 
were  encamped  along  Village  Creek,  foraging  parties 
were  frequently  sent  out  to  bring  in  food  for  the  animals. 

On  the  27th  of  June  a  large  train  was  sent  out  by  the 
quartermaster,  guarded  by  a  portion  of  the  3d  Iowa  Cav 
alry  and  a  company  of  infantry.  At  the  same  time,  the 
train  of  the  9th  Illinois  Cavalry  was  sent  out,  guarded  by 
a  battalion  of  that  regiment  under  Major  Wallis.  In  the 
afternoon  the  quartermaster's  train  was  attacked  about 
four  miles  out,  and  a  lieutenant  and  three  men  of  the  3d 
Iowa  Cavalry  were  killed  outright.  A  portion  of  the 
wagons  came  hurrying  back  to  camp,  bringing  in  some 
wounded  men,  when  General  Steele,  who  was  in  command 
of  the  division,  ordered  Colonel  Bussey  to  go  to  the  re 
lief  of  his  men,  and  ordered  Colonel  Brackett  to  bring  his 
train  in.  As  soon  as  the  horses  could  be  saddled,. Colo 
nel  Brackett,  with  Major  Humphrey's  battalion  of  his 
regiment,  started  out,  and  soon  overtook  his  train  coming- 
in,  safely  guarded  by  Major  Wallis.  Sending  the  train 

L 


242  History  of  the 

on  to  camp,  he  ordered  Wallis  to  follow  with  his  battal 
ion,  and  pressed  on  to  the  scene  of  the  fight.  Upon  ar 
riving  there,  he  found  the  3d  Iowa  Cavalry  in  the  road, 
halted  near  the  quartermaster's  train,  and  passing  them, 
made  some  inquiries  as  to  the  direction  the  rebels  had 
taken  after  the  attack. 

He  learned  that  they  had  disappeared  in  the  woods 
near  by  from  an  infantry  lieutenant  who  was  standing 
with  his  men  drawn  up  in  line  in  rear  of  the  train. 
Moving  on  to  Stewart's  plantation,  he  learned  from  "  a 
reliable  contraband"  that  Colonel  Matlock,  with  a  mixed 
command  of  Arkansas  and  Texas  troops,  had  disappeared 
in  the  timber  shortly  after  killing  the  Iowa  men.  Press 
ing  the  negro  into  service  as  a  guide,  Colonel  Brackett 
moved  on,  determined  to  test  the  muscle  of  the  trans- 
Mississippi  chivalry.  He  left  the  clearing  and  marched 
along  a  road  which  was,  even  in  daylight,  dark  and 
gloomy,  from  the  deep  shadows  of  the  trees,  and  had  not 
gone  far  before  his  curiosity  was  gratified.  Captain 
Knight,  with  his  company,  was  in  advance,  and  by  his 
side  was  riding  an  Arkansas  Union  guide,  named  Wil 
liam  McCulloch,  and  in  front  of  these  was  the  negro, 
leading  the  way.  Suddenly,  at  a  turn  of  the  road,  as  he 
was  marching  along,  he  met  the  rebels  face  to  face,  and 
not  ten  steps  from  him.  Both  parties  immediately  fired, 
as  their  pistols  were  ready,  and  the  two  leading  rebels 
fell  dead  from  their  horses,  and  the  brave  Captain  Knight 
was  shot  through  the  body,  and  also  fell  from  his  horse. 
The  negro  disappeared,  and  it  is  even  now  a  question  as 
to  what  became  of  him;  he  disappeared  instantly,  as 
thoroughly  as  if  he  had  been  swept  off  the  face  of  the 
earth. 


United  States  Cavalry.  243 

The  rebels  turned  and  ran,  jumping  off  their  horses  in 
the  wildest  manner,  and  betaking  themselves  to  a  strong 
position  on  the  road,  to  the  right  and  left  of  which  there 
was  an  impassable  cypress  swamp,  and  in  front  a  dense 
undergrowth.  Knight's  company  halted  a  moment,  and 
then  poured  a  deadly  fire  into  the  rebels,  who  returned  it 
in  good  faith,  and  soon  the  place  became  as  warm  as 
need  be.  It  was  sundown  when  the  fight  commenced, 
and  it  continued  until  it  was  too  dark  to  see  any  thing 
except  the  spiteful  flashes  of  the  enemy's  guns.  Seven 
companies  of  the  9th  Illinois  Cavalry  were  engaged,  av 
eraging  thirty  men,  making  a  total  of  two  hundred  and 
ten ;  in  a  half  hour's  time  thirty-three  of  this  number 
were  killed  and  wounded,  being  about  one  sixth  of  the 
whole  number  engaged.  For  cavalry  this  did  very  well. 
The  colonel  tried  to  force  the  rebels  out  with  the  sabre, 
but  the  brush  in  front  was  so  thick  the  horses  could 
make  no  headway  through  it.  As  darkness  came  on,  the 
enemy  retreated.  Colonel  Brackett,  Major  Wallis,  Cap 
tain  Knight,  and  Adjutant  Blackburn,  were  among  the 
wounded,  an<i  the  regiment  presented  a  sad  sight  as  it 
again  reached  the  main  road,  where  the  gallant  lieuten 
ant,  with  his  infantry  men,  were  still  staying,  hoping  to 
be  of  some  benefit  to  their  friends  who  were  fighting. 
Whoever  he  was,  he  certainly  was  a  brave  man,  and  his 
company  appeared  to  be  equally  so.  Every  officer  and 
man  who  was  engaged  in  this  fight  behaved  admirably ; 
they  were  Majors  Wallis  and  Humphrey ;  Captains  Gif- 
ford,  Knight,  Cameron,  Blakemore,  and  Booth;'  Adju 
tant  Stevenson  and  Battalion  Adjutant  Blackburn ;  Lieu 
tenants  Harrington,  Shear,  Ellsworth,  Bayley,  and  Shat- 


244  History  of  ike 

tuck.  The  loss  to  the  rebels  was  over  fifty  killed  and 
wounded. 

After  getting  in  the  main  road  at  Stewart's  plantation, 
the  wounded  and  dead  men  were  carried  along  on  horses. 
The  regiment  had  proceeded  but  a  short  distance  on  its 
way  back  to  camp  when  it  was  met  by  Brigadier  General 
Benton,  who  had  started  out,  on  hearing  the  firing,  with 
his  whole  brigade  to  assist  the  Illinoisans.  It  was  very 
dark  by  this  time,  and  farther  operations  were  impossi 
ble.  The  next  morning,  however,  Benton  went  on,  and 
buried  the  dead  rebels,  who  were  found  lying  in  the  tim 
ber. 

General  Curtis's  army  moved  on  toward  the  Mississip 
pi  River ;  and,  after  crossing  the  Cache  River,  a  portion 
of  it,  consisting  of  the  33d  Illinois  Infantry,  llth  Wiscon 
sin  Infantry,  and  the  1st  Indiana  Cavalry,  had  a  very 
spirited  battle  with  the  rebels.  It  was  on  the  7th  of 
July,  when  Colonel  Charles  E.  Eovey,  of  the  33d  Illi 
nois,  commanding  his  own  and  Colonel  Harris's  llth 
Wisconsin  Volunteers,  was  suddenly  attacked  by  a  large 
force  of  Arkansas  and  Texas  troops,  under  General  Al 
bert  Rust.  Ilovey  drew  up  his  command  along  a  rail 
fence,  and  as  the  rebels  came  up,  he  delivered  his  fire 
coolly  and  with  deadly  certainty  among  them.  In  a 
short  time  the  1st  Indiana  Cavalry  rode  up  in  fine  style, 
under  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Wood,  and  imme 
diately  charged  upon  the  rebels  with  their  sabres,  at  the 
same  time  letting  them  have  the  benefit  of  two  small  ri 
fled  pieces  which  belonged  to  that  regiment.  For  a  few 
minutes  the  rebels  stood  this,  but  it  was  too  much,  and, 
after  three  desperate  charges,  they  broke  and  left  the 


United  States  Cavalry.  245 

field.  Our  men  followed,  and  slaughtered  them  in  a 
most  dreadful  manner,  one  hundred  and  eleven  dead  reb 
els  being  left  on  the  ground.  The  chase  continued  sev 
eral  miles.  In  this  fight,  Captain  William  W.  Sloan,  of 
the  1st  Indiana  Cavalry,  was  killed,  and  Major  Clenden- 
ning  and  ten  men  of  that  regiment  were  wounded.  The 
regiment  acquitted  itself  with  great  credit. 

After  this  time  the  rebels  kept  at  a  respectful  distance, 
trying  to  damage  the  country  as  much  as  possible  by  fill 
ing  up  the  wells  with  rails  and  dead  horses,  so  as  to  pre 
vent  our  people  getting  water,  on  which  account  both 
men  and  animals  suffered  intensely.  Finally,  however, 
Curtis  reached  the  Mississippi,  and  the  appearance  of  the 
river  was  greeted  with  cheers  by  our  wayworn  soldiers. 

A  fight  occurred  near  Fort  Donelson,  Tennessee,  on 
the  26th  of  August,  1862,  between  the  5th  regiment  of 
Iowa  Cavalry,  under  command  of  Colonel  William  W. 
Lowe,  and  a  regiment  of  rebels,  commanded  by  Colonel 
Woodward,  which  resulted  in  the  defeat  of  the  latter, 
with  the  loss  of  several  men  and  their  artillery.  Lowe 
had  two  men  killed  and  eighteen  wounded ;  among  the 
latter  was  Lieutenant  Summers,  who  received  a  mortal 
wound.  The  bearing  of  the  cavalry  was  without  a  fault. 

Colonel  Lowe,  in  command  of  portions  of  the  5th  Iowa 
Cavalry  and  the  71st  Ohio,  llth  Illinois  and  13th  Wis 
consin  Infantry,  recaptured  the  town  of  Clarksville,  Ten 
nessee,  from  the  rebels,  on  the  8th  of  September,  after  a 
well-fought  affair,  in  which  the  enemy  lost  seventeen 
killed  and  fifty  wounded.  Lowe  took  about  fifty  horses, 
and  a  number  of  arms,  etc.,  from  the  rebels.  The  colo 
nel  is  an  experienced  officer,  and  for  a  long  time  com- 


246  History  of  the 

manded  Forts  Henry  and  Hieman,  where  he  conducted 
affairs  skillfully,  and  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  those 
under  his  command. 

By  making  a  forced  march  of  twenty  miles,  a  body  of 
cavalry,  consisting  of  the  7th  Pennsylvania,  under  Wyn- 
koop,  and  the  5th  Kentucky  regiment,  under  command 
of  Colonel  Haggard,  came  upon  a  body  of  rebel  cavalry, 
under  command  of  General  Adams,  near  Jasper,  Tennes 
see,  on  the  3d  of  June,  when  a  fierce  skirmish  ensued,  in 
which  the  rebels  were  put  to  flight  with  considerable 
loss.  General  Neagly,  in  his  report  of  the  affair,  speaks 
highly  of  the  conduct  of  the  officers  commanding  the  reg 
iments,  and  also  of  Lieutenants  Wharton,  Funk,  Sypher, 
and  Nell.  Major  Adams,  a  brother  of  the  rebel  general, 
was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner.  * 

On  the  18th  of  July,  near  Memphis,  Missouri,  Major 
John  Y.  Clopper,  in  command  of  a  detachment  of  Mer 
rill's  Horse,  about  three  hundred  strong,  and  a  detach 
ment  of  Major  Eogers's  battalion  of  the  llth  regiment 
of  Cavalry,  Missouri  State  Militia,  numbering  about  one 
hundred,  attacked  the  combined  guerrilla  bands  of  Porter 
and  Dunn,  and,  after  a  severely-contested  fight,  entirely 
routed  them.  The  rebels  left  twenty-three  of  their  num 
ber  lying  dead  on  the  field.  The  loss  to  Major  Clopper's 
command  was  considerable. 

In  writing  of  General  McClellan's  operations  on  the 
Peninsula,  I  had  failed  to  mention  that  on  the  7th  of  Au 
gust  a  skirmish  occurred  near  Malvern  Hill, Virginia,  in 
which  Lieutenant  Colonel  Gamble,  of  the  8th  regiment 
of  Illinois  Cavalry,  was  wounded,  together  with  several 
of  his  men.  The  enemy  on  this  occasion  lost  about  fifty 
killed  and  wounded,  and  fifty  taken  prisoners. 


United  States  Cavalry.  247 

Major  General  John  Pope  was  assigned  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  Army  of  Virginia  on  the  26th  day  of  June, 
1862.  In  his  report  he  says  the  cavalry  numbered  about 
five  thousand,  but  most  of  it  was  badly  mounted  and 
armed,  and  in  poor  condition  for  service.  Soon  after 
taking  command,  Brigadier  General  John  P.  Hatch  was 
relieved  from  the  command  of  the  cavalry  of  General 
Banks's  corps,  and  Brigadier  General  John  Buford  was 
sent  to  Banks,  to  act  as  his  chief  of  cavalry.  Brigadier 
General  John  Buford  and  George  D.  Bayard  were  Gener 
al  Pope's  cavalry  commanders,  although  Brigadier  Gen 
eral  Benjamin  S.  Eoberts  was  his  chief  of  cavalry. 

Buford  and  Bayard  were  both  excellent  officers,  and 
both  had  seen  considerable  service.  Their  cavalry  was 
kept  busily  employed  in  making  reconnoissances,  and  on 
duty  of  like  character ;  and  it  was  not  until  the  close  of 
the  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain,  on  the  9th  of  August,  that 
they  had  an  opportunity  of  doing  much  damage  to  the 
enemy.  They  hung  round  the  rear  of  the  retreating 
rebel  army,  and,  before  they  could  reach  the  Kapidan, 
had  captured  many  stragglers. 

Pope  sent  a  cavalry  expedition  to  Louisa  Court-house 
on  the  16th  of  August,  which  captured  the  rebel  General 
J.  E.  B.  Stuart's  adjutant  general  (who  had  in  his  posses 
sion  some  very  valuable  papers),  and  came  very  near  cap 
turing  Stuart  himself. 

During  the  battles  of  Groveton,  August  29th,  and  Bull 
Run,  August  30th,  the  cavalry  was  kept  continually  on 
the  move,  and  became  completely  broken  down.  Pope, 
in  his  report,  says :  "  On  the  morning  of  the  30th,  as  may 
be  supposed,  our  troops,  who  had  been  so  continually 


248  History  of  the 

marching  tmd  fighting  for  so  many  days,  were  in  a  state 
of  great  exhaustion.  They  had  had  little  to  eat  for  two 
days  previous,  and  artillery  and  cavalry  horses  had  been 
in  harness  and  saddled  continuously  for  ten  days,  and 
had  had  no  forage  for  two  days  previous.  It  may  easily 
be  imagined  how  little  these  troops,  after  such  severe  la 
bors,  and  after  undergoing  such  hardship  and  privation, 
were  in  condition  for  active  and  efficient  service." 

At  the  battle  of  Chantilly,  on  the  1st  of  September, 
our  mounted  men  could  be  of  little  service,  as,  according 
to  the  report  of  Generals  Buford  and  Bayard,  there  were 
not  five  horses  to  the  company  that  could  be  found  to 
trot.  It  was  impossible,  therefore,  to  cover  the  front  of 
the  army  or  to  make  reconnoissances,  as  is  usual  and 
necessary  in  the  presence  of  an  enemy. 

Pope's  shattered  legions  finally  found  safety  in  the  in- 
trenchments  opposite  Washington,  and  he  was  shortly 
after  relieved  from  the  command  at  his  own  request.  In 
his  report  Pope  says:  "Generals  Bayard  and  Buford  com 
manded  all  of  the  cavalry  belonging  to  the  Army  of  Vir 
ginia.  Their  duties  were  peculiarly  arduous  and  hazard 
ous  ;  and  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  throughout  the 
operations,  from  the  first  to  the  last  day  of  the  campaign, 
scarce  a  day  passed  that  these  officers  did  not  render 
services  which  entitle  them  to  the  gratitude  of  the  gov 
ernment. 

"When  the  rebel  army,  under  General  Lee,  invaded 
Maryland,  Major  General  McClellan  again  took  command 
of  the  United  States  Army.  At  the  battle  of  South 
Mountain,  September  14th,  1862,  our  cavalry  force  con 
sisted  of  one  division,  under  command  of  Brigadier  Gen- 


United  States  Cavalry.  249 

era!  Alfred  Pleasanton.  This  division  was  kept  in  hand 
until  evening,  when,  finding  the  enemy's  line  had  given 
way,  our  mounted  men  were  pressed  forward,  and  over 
taking  their  cavalry  at  Boonesboro,  made  a  dashing 
charge,  killing  and  wounding  a  number,  and  capturing 
two  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners  and  two  guns. 

At  the  terrible  battle  of  Antietam,  fought  on  the  17th 
of  September,  1862,  the  cavalry  took  very  little  part,  as 
it  could  not  be  advantageously  used  on  that  dreadful  day, 
which  was  purely  a  contest  between  the  infantry  and  ar 
tillery  of  both  armies.  Pleasanton's  men  were  held  in 
reserve  near  a  bridge  over  Antietam  Creek,  and  lost  but 
few  of  their  number.  Lee's  army  withdrew  during  the 
night,  and  soon  made  its  way  back  into  Virginia.  In  this 
battle,  Col.  John  Sedgwick,  of  the  4th  U.  S.  Cavalry,  was 
very  severely  wounded.  He  was  major  general  of  volun 
teers  at  the  time,  and  commanded  a  corps.  Colonel  J.  H. 
Childs,  of  the  -4th  Penn.  Cavalry,  was  killed  in  this  battle. 

"While  the  fight  was  going  on  at  South  Mountain, 
Maryland,  on  the  14th  of  September,  Harper's  Ferry, Vir 
ginia,  which  was  not  more  than  ten  miles  distant,  was 
closely  besieged  by  a  large  rebel  force,  under  command 
of  Stonewall  Jackson.  It  became  evident  that  Colonel 
Miles,  the  Union  commander,  was  about  to  surrender  the 
place,  which  the  cavalry  portion  of  the  troops  would  not 
submit  to.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Hasbrouck  Davis,  in  com 
mand  of  his  own  regiment,  the  12th  Illinois  Cavalry,  the 
8th  New  York,  the  1st  Maryland,  and  the  1st  Ehode  Isl 
and  Cavalry,  in  all  about  two  thousand  men,  cut  their 
way  through  the  enemy's  lines  on  the  night  of  the  14th, 
and,  after  a  series  of  thrilling  adventures,  made  their  cs- 

L2 


250  History  of  the 

cape.  Not  only  did  the  cavalry  do  this,  but  they  cap 
tured  the  wagon-train  belonging  to  the  rebel  General 
Longstreet,  with  over  a  hundred  prisoners,  and  carried 
them  in  safety  to  Greencastle,  Pennsylvania.  This  was 
one  of  the  most  heroic  feats  of  the  war,  and  alone  would 
shed  a  lustre  upon  the  cavalry  service.  On  the  follow 
ing  day  every  other  portion  of  the  command,  numbering 
11,583,  surrendered  to  the  rebels  ! 

At  the  battle  of  luka,  Mississippi,  September  19th,  our 
cavalry  behaved  admirably.  In  his  congratulatory  order 
to  his  army,  Major  General  Kosecrans  says :  "  To  Colonel 
Mizner,  chief  of  the  cavalry  division,  and  to  the  officers 
and  men  of  his  command,  the  general  commanding  here 
publicly  tenders  his  acknowledgments.  For  courage,  ef 
ficiency,  and  for  incessant  and  successful  combats,  he  does 
not  believe  they  have  any  superiors.  In  our  advance  on 
luka,  and  during  the  action,  they  ably  performed  their 
duty.  Colonel  Hatch  fought  and  whipped  the  rebels  at 
Peyton's  Mills  on  the  19th,  pursued  the  retreating  rebel 
column  on  the  20th,  harassed  their  rear,  and  captured  a 
large  number  of  arms.  During  the  action,  five  privates 
of  the  3d  Michigan  Cavalry  beyond  our  extreme  right 
opened  fire,  captured  a  rebel  stand  of  colors,  a  captain 
and  lieutenant,  sent  in  the  colors  that  night,  alone  held 
their  prisoners  during  the  night,  and  brought  them  in 


next  morning." 


Again,  at  Corinth,  on  the  3d  and  4th  of  October,  Gen 
eral  Rosecrans  found  that  his  cavalry  did  good  service, 
and  for  it  he  thanked  the  commanders  in  general  orders. 
After  the  fighting  the  mounted  men  followed  the.  enemy 
more  than  sixty  miles. 


United  States  Cavalry.  251 

On  the  8th  of  October  the  battle  of  Perry ville,  Ken 
tucky,  was  fought  by  the  United  States  forces,  under  Ma 
jor  General  Buell,  against  the  rebels.  In  this  action  the 
cavalry  was  under  command  of  Brigadier  General  Gay. 
A  battalion  of  the  2d  Michigan  Cavalry,  under  Colonel 
A.  P.  Campbell,  and  a  portion  of  the  9th  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry,  under  Colonel  James,  bore  a  conspicuous  part 
Captain  Jared  W.  Jenkins,  of  the  1st  Kentucky  Cavalry, 
was  killed  in  this  battle. 

During  the  summer  of  1862,  in  addition  to  the  fights 
already  mentioned  as  having  occurred  in  Missouri,  there 
were  several  others  of  considerable  importance.  At  In 
dependence,  Missouri,  on  the  morning  of  the  llth  of  Au 
gust,  an  attack  was  made  by  the  rebel  forces  under  Col 
onel  J.  H.  Hughes,  and,  after  a  severe  fight,  they  were 
driven  off  with  considerable  loss.  The  Union  troops  be 
longed  to  the  7th  Missouri  Cavalry  Volunteers,  and  a  bat 
talion  of  the  Missouri  State  Militia.  Our  loss  was  twen 
ty-six  killed  and  thirty  wounded ;  among  the  latter  were 
Lieutenants  Yance  and  Pence,  both  of  the  7th  Missouri 
Volunteer  Cavalry. 

Again,  on  the  9th  of  August,  a  portion  of  Merrill's 
Horse,  the  9th  Missouri  State  Militia,  and  two  companies 
of  the  7th  Missouri  State  Militia,  under  Colonel  Guitar, 
attacked  the  rebel  camp  of  Colonel  Poindexter  at  Comp- 
ton's  Ferry,  Missouri,  and,  after  a  brisk  skirmish,  entirely 
routed  the  enemy.  Our  loss  was  trifling ;  theirs  was 
considerable. 

At  Lone  Jack,  Missouri,  on  the  morning  of  the  16th 
of  August,  the  rebels,  under  Colonel  Coffee,  attacked 
about  six  hundred  State  Militia,  under  Major  Foster,  de- 


252  History  of  the 

feating  him,  and  capturing  two  pieces  of  artillery.  The 
loss  on  each  side  was  about  fifty  killed  and  from  seventy- 
five  to  one  hundred  wounded ;  among  the  latter  was  Ma 
jor  Foster. 

August  21st  was  the  day  on  which  a  fight  occurred 
near  Gallatin,  Tennessee,  between  the  Union  Cavalry,  un 
der  Brigadier  General  K.  W.  Johnson,  and  the  rebel  Gen 
eral  John  Morgan.  The  Union  Cavalry  numbered  six 
hundred  and  forty,  taken  from  the  2d  Indiana,  Lieuten 
ant  Colonel  Stewart;  4th  Kentucky,  Captain  Chilson; 
5th  Kentucky,  Major  Winfrey;  and  7th  Pennsylvania, 
Colonel  Wynkoop.  Our  men  were  defeated,  and  the  con 
duct  of  many  of  them,  according  to  General  Johnson's 
report,  was  any  thing  but  creditable.  Johnson  himself 
was  taken  prisoner,  with  about  seventy -five  men.  Thirty 
of  his  men  were  killed  and  fifty  wounded ;  among  the 
former  was  Adjutant  "Wynkoop,  a  brave  and  gallant 
officer. 

On  the  30th  of  August  a  fight  occurred  near  Bolivar, 
Tennessee,  between  a  body  of  Union  troops  and  the  reb 
els.  Our  soldiers  were  forced  to  retire  after  a  lengthy 
engagement.  The  cavalry  on  our  side  consisted  of  four 
companies  of  the  2d  Illinois  regiment,  under  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Hogg,  and  two  companies  of  the  llth  Illinois 
regiment,  under  Major  Puterbaugh.  In  this  affair  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel  Hogg  was  killed. 

In  October,  General  Pleasanton,  with  a  cavalry  force, 
crossed  the  Potomac,  and  made  a  daring  reconnoissance 
as  far  as  Martinsburg,  driving  the  rebel  cavalry,  under 
Wade  Hampton,  before  him,  and  obtaining  all  the  infor 
mation  he  desired.  The  enemv  had  declared  that  thev 


United  States  Cavalry.  253 

wished  to  fall  in  with  Pleasanton's  men ;  but  upon  the 
approach  of  the  Union  troops  they  thought  better  of  the 
matter,  and  placed  themselves  beyond  the  reach  of  harm. 
Our  cavalry  was  seven  hundred  strong,  consisting  of  the 
8th  Illinois,- and  portions  of  the  8th  Pennsylvania  and  3d 
Indiana. 

On  the  10th  of  October,  a  body  of  United  States  troops, 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Boyle,  of  the  9th  reg 
iment  Kentucky  Cavalry,  completely  surprised  a  detach 
ment  of  rebel  troops  belonging  to  General  Bragg's  army, 
and  captured  sixteen  hundred  prisoners.  This  was  a 
most  successful  affair,  and  reflects  great  credit  upon  the 
Union  troops  engaged. 

The  next  day  a  fight  occurred  near  Helena,  Arkansas, 
between  a  detachment  of  the  4th  Iowa  Cavalry,  under 
Major  Rector,  and  a  superior  force  of  Texas  Rangers,  un 
der  Lieutenant  Colonel  Giddings ;  the  latter  were  routed, 
and  nine  of  them,  including  Giddings,  were  captured. 
The  Iowa  men  lost  three  killed  and  nine  wounded. 

While  this  was  going  on  in  the  West,  three  hundred 
horsemen,  commanded  by  Colonel  McReynolds,  of  the  1st 
New  York  Cavalry,  fell  upon  the  camp  of  the  rebel  Col 
onel  Imboden,  at  Cacapon  Bridge,  seventeen  miles  from 
Winchester,  Virginia,  and  captured  "  a  major,  lieutenant, 
twenty -five  privates,  a  large  number  of  horses  and  mules, 
one  thousand  blankets,  a  quantity  of  ammunition,  brass 
cannon,  wagons,  fire-arms,  clothing,  and  Colonel  Imbo- 
den's  private  papers." 


254  History  of  the 


CHAPTER  Xin. 

Pursuit  of  General  Stuart  by  Pleasanton's  Cavalry. — Fights  near  Lex 
ington,  Kentucky. — Skirmishes. — Expedition  into  Mississippi. — Fight 
near  Coffeville. — Lieutenant  Colonel  McCullocli  killed. — Cavalry  at 
Prairie  Grove.  —  Capture  of  Rebel  Cavalry  near  New  Haven,  Ken 
tucky. — Snicker's  Ferry,  Virginia. — The  Cavalry  at  Murfreesborough. 

WHEN  the  rebel  Stuart  invaded  Pennsylvania,  Gen 
eral  Pleasanton,  with  a  United  States  cavalry  force,  was 
sent  to  oppose  him.  On  the  morning,  according  to  the 
official  account,  of  October  llth,  he  received  orders  to 
start  with  his  command,  and  was  soon  en  route  for  Ha- 
gerstown,  arriving  there  about  eleven  o'clock.  Here, 
learning  the  rebels  were  moving  in  the  direction  of  Mer- 
cersburg,  he  started  for  Clear  Spring  in  hopes  to  inter 
cept  them.  He  had  proceeded  only  five  miles  when  he 
received  a  dispatch  from  head-quarters  ordering  him  to 
halt.  At  half  past  one  o'clock  P.M.  he  was  ordered  to 
march  to  Mechanicstown  via  Cavetown  and  Harrison's 
Gap.  He  sent  patrols  to  Emmittsburg  and  Gettysburg 
to  obtain  information  of  the  enemy,  and  reached  Mechan 
icstown  about  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening.  At  half  past 
twelve  o'clock  A.M.  he  sent  scouts  in  the  direction  of 
Middleburg,  who  reported  that  the  rebel  cavalry  under 
Stuart  had  passed  through  Middletownj  five  miles  to  the 
east  of  Mechanicstown,  one  hour  before  that  time,  taking 
a  private  road  to  Woodsborough,  and  thence  to  Liberty,  en 
route  to  the  mouth  of  the  Monocacy.  General  Pleasanton 


United  States  Cavalry.  255 

started  for  this  point  by  way  of  Frederick  City,  passing 
through  the  latter  place  at  five  o'clock  Sunday  morn 
ing.  He  reached  the  Monocacy  at  eight  o'clock  A.M., 
and  found  four  or  five  hundred  infantry  guarding  the 
canal  aqueduct  and  the  roads  to  the  ferries.  They  told 
him  that  they  had  neither  seen  nor  heard  of  the  rebel 
cavalry.  He  crossed  the  Monocacy,  with  portions  of  the 
8th  Illinois  and  the  3d  Indiana  Cavalry,  and  two  guns 
of  Pennington's  Battery,  and  sent  forward  a  company  on 
the  Barnesville  Eoad  to  reconnoitre,  while  the  main  col 
umn  moved  in  the  direction  of  Poolesville. 

The  advanced  squadron  had  not  passed  more  than  one 
and  a  half  miles  from  the  ferry  before  they  discovered  a 
body  of  cavalry  approaching,  dressed  in  the  uniform  of 
United  States  soldiers.  The  officers  in  command  of  the 
squadron  made  signals  in  a  friendly  manner,  which  were 
returned  by  the  parties,  who  approached  to  within  a  short 
distance  of  each  other,  when  the  officer  commanding  the 
opposite  party  ordered  his  men  to  charge. 

Skirmishing  took  place.  The  enemy  brought  up  a  su 
perior  force,  and  opened  a  couple  of  guns,  which  obliged 
our  men  to  retire.  The  two  guns  of  Pennington's  Bat 
tery  were  brought  into  position,  and  opened  with  a  brisk 
fire,  which  checked  the  enemy's  advance.  At  this  time 
Pleasanton's  command  was  not  more  than  four  hundred 
strong ;  four  small  companies  of  infantry  were  then  taken 
to  support  the  guns.  Skirmishing  took  place  until  the 
remainder  of  Pennington's  guns  came  up,  and  they  soon 
drove  off  the  enemy's  guns. 

It  was  then  discovered  that  the  enemy  had  two  guns 
in  position  at  White's  Ford  on  this  side,  and  one  gun  on 


256  History  of  the 

the  other  side  of  the  river.  Pleasanton  then  took  all  the 
infantry  at  the  mouth  of  the  Monocacy,  with  the  excep 
tion  of  two  companies,  and  made  a  general  advance.  The 
enemy  then  retreated  toward  White's  Ferry,  keeping  up 
a  rapid  fire  all  the  time.  Pennington's  horses  gave  out, 
and  the  men  were  obliged  to  push  the  cannon  up  the 
hills.  The  enemy,  owing  to  this  delay,  effected  a  cross 
ing  over  the  river.  This  was  half  past  one  o'clock  P.M. 
He  then  received  information  from  Colonel  Ward,  of 
General  Stoneman's  division,  that  a  brigade  of  infantry, 
and  a  regiment  of  cavalry,  and  a  section  of  artillery 
were  in  the  neighborhood.  He  sent  word  to  the  general 
that  the  enemy  had  escaped.  This  was  the  first  intima 
tion  he  had  of  troops  being  in  that  vicinity. 

General  Pleasanton  succeeded  in  driving  the  rebels 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Monocacy  to  White's  Ford,  a  dis 
tance  of  three  miles.  The  general  was  of  the  impression 
that,  had  White's  Ford  been  occupied  by  any  force  of  ours 
previous  to  the  occupation  of  it  by  the  enemy,  the  cap 
ture  of  Stuart's  forces  would  have  been  certain  ;  but  with 
Pleasanton's  small  force,  which  did  not  exceed  one  fourth 
of  that  of  the  enemy,  it  was  not  practicable  for  him  to 
occupy  that  ford  while  the  enemy  was  in  his  front.  Thus 
ended  the  daring  raid  of  the  rebel  cavalry  under  Stuart 
into  Pennsylvania.  They  escaped,  carrying  off  consider 
able  plunder,  and  doing  much  damage.  It  was  not  the 
fault  of  Pleasanton,  however,  as  he  traveled  ninety  miles 
in  twenty-four  hours,  with  the  rain  pouring  down  upon 
his  men  ;  and  had  he  had  a  sufficient  force  with  him, 
there  is  little  doubt  but  Stuart,  with  his  Virginia  and 
South  Carolina  chivalry,  would  have  been  captured. 


United  States  Cavalry.  257 

The  rebels  passed  completely  around  the  army  of  Gen 
eral  McClellan. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  the  6th  regiment  of  Cavalry, 
Missouri  State  Militia,  under  Colonel  Catherwood,  return 
ed  to  Sedalia,  after  a  very  successful  scout  after  guerril 
las,  in  which  they  dispersed  several  small  bands,  killed 
several,  and  took  Colonel  William  H.  McCown,  of  the 
rebel  army,  prisoner. 

A  fight  took  place  near  Lexington,  Kentucky,  on  the 
17th  of  October,  between  about  four  hundred  Union  cav 
alry,  under  Major  Charles  B.  Seidel,  of  the  3d  Ohio  Cav 
alry,  and  a  large  rebel  force,  under  General  John  Mor 
gan.  The  Union  troops  behaved  well,  but  were  forced 
to  retreat  before  superior  numbers,  losing  four  killed, 
twenty-four  wounded,  and  a  large  number  of  prisoners. 
On  the  next  day,  near  the  same  place,  Morgan  attacked 
a  detachment  of  the  4th  Ohio  Cavalry,  under  Captain 
Eobey,  and  captured  the  whole  Union  force.  In  this  af 
fair,  as  in  the  one  before  alluded  to,  our  people  behaved 
well,  but  their  small  numbers  could  do  nothing  with 
Morgan's  men,  who  amounted  to  three  thousand  cavalry 
men,  with  six  pieces  of  artillery.  Afterward  the  rebel 
chief  entered  Lexington,  and  passed  through  without 
stopping,  and  moved  off  in  the  direction  of  Versailles. 

Two  skirmishes  occurred  in  Missouri  on  the  same  day, 
October  20th,  in  different  portions  of  the  state.  Major 
Woodson,  of  the  10th  Cavalry,  Missouri  State  Militia, 
near  the  Auxvois  Eiver  attacked  a  party  of  guerrillas, 
killing  and  wounding  several,  capturing  their  arms,  am 
munition,  horses,  etc.,  and  completely  dispersing  them. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  James  Stuart,  with  a  portion  of  the 


258  History  of  the 

10th  Illinois  Cavalry,  attacked  about  two  hundred  rebels 
near  Marshfield,  Missouri,  completely  routing  and  disor 
ganizing  them,  and  capturing  twenty-seven  of  them. 

A  skirmish  occurred  at  Woodville,  Tennessee,  on  the 
21st  of  October,  when  Major  John  J.  Mudd,  2d  Illinois 
Cavalry,  completely  routed  a  party  of  guerrillas,  and  cap 
tured  forty  of  them.  On  the  following  day,  Major  B.  F. 
Lazear,  leading  a  Union  force,  attacked  and  routed  a  par 
ty  of  rebels  near  Yan  Buren,  Arkansas,  with  considerable 
loss  to  them. 

Colonel  Edward  M.  McCook,  of  the  2d  Indiana  Caval 
ry,  encountered  several  bands  of  Morgan's  guerrillas  near 
Big  Hill,  Kentucky,  on  the  23d  of  October,  killing  four 
or  five  of  them  and  destroying  several  wagons  partly 
loaded.  From  there  he  went  to  Kichmond,  and  captured 
and  paroled  some  two  hundred  sick  and  wounded  rebels 
who  had  been  left  behind. 

General  Ilerron,  with  the  1st  Iowa  Cavalry,  the  7th 
Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  and  a  portion  of  the  1st 
Missouri  Volunteer  Cavalry,  attacked  a  force  of  Texas 
Kangers,  under  Colonel  Craven,  near  Cross  Hollows  and 
Fayetteville,  Arkansas,  on  the  28th  of  October.  The 
Union  soldiers  made  a  tedious  night  march,  and,  falling 
upon  the  enemy  with  great  vigor,  routed  them,  capturing 
all  of  their  camp  equipage  and  killing  some  six  or  eight 
of  them.  The  Union  loss  ^was  one  killed  and  four 
wounded. 

On  the  3d  of  November,  Captain  Flint,  of  the  1st  Ver 
mont  Cavalry,  with  eighty  men  of  his  company,  doing 
picket  duty  near  New  Baltimore,  Virginia,  was  attacked 
by  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  rebel  cavalry.  The 


United  States  Cavalry.  259 

brave  Vermonters  drove  the  rebels  off  with  considerable 
loss,  and  then  returned  to  their  post,  which  they  held. 

On  the  8th  of  November,  Colonel  Lee,  of  the  7th  Kan 
sas  Cavalry,  with  about  fifteen  hundred  Union  cavalry 
defeated  a  party  of  rebels  near  Hudsonville,  Mississippi, 
killing  sixteen  and  capturing  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  of  them,  together  with  one  hundred  horses  and  a 
large  number  of  fire-arms. 

A  portion  of  the  last-named  regiment,  with  a  detach 
ment  of  the  2d  Illinois  Cavalry,  under  Major  John  J. 
Mudd,  2d  Illinois  Cavalry,  attacked  a  body  of  rebels  on 
the  12th  of  November  near  Lamar,  Mississippi,  utterly 
routing  them  with  great  loss. 

The  3d  New  York  Cavalry,  under  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Mix,  attacked  a  North  Carolina  infantry  regiment,  sup 
ported  by  some  North  Carolina  cavalry,  at  Cove  Creek, 
Torth  Carolina,  on  the  18th  of  November,  and,  after  a 
spirited  fight,  the  North  Carolina  troops  were  put  to 
flight,  losing  a  portion  of  their  arms  and  equipments. 

At  the  fight  at  Cane  Hill,  Arkansas,  November  28th, 
between  the  Union  forces  under  General  Blunt  and  the 
rebels  under  General  Marmaduke,  the  6th  regiment  of 
Kansas  Cavalry  behaved  well,  and  charged  upon  the  en 
emy's  artillery  with  sabres.  Owing  to  the  position  of 
the  artillery  the  charge  was  unsuccessful,  though  the  men 
engaged,  led  on  by  Colonel  Judson,  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Jewett,  and  Major  Campbell,  did  every  thing  in  their 
power  to  carry  it ;  but  they  were  forced  back,  and,  under 
cover  of  the  night,  the  enemy  escaped.  Lieutenant  Col 
onel  Jewett  was  killed,  and  Lieutenant  J.  A.  Johnson,  of 
the  same  regiment,  was  very  severely  wounded.  In  this 


260  History  of  the 

action,  the  2d  Kansas  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  Cloud,  also 
participated. 

An  expedition  to  Yellville,  Arkansas,  under  command 
of  Colonel  Dudley  Wickersham,  of  the  10th  Illinois  Cav 
alry,  returned  to  General  Herron's  camp  on  the  30th  of 
November.  The  troops  engaged  were  the  10th  Illinois 
Cavalry,  the  3d  Wisconsin  Cavalry,  Colonel  William  A. 
Barstow,  and  the  1st  Iowa  Cavalry,  Colonel  Anderson. 
The  expedition  was  successful,  and  succeeded  in  destroy 
ing  portions  of  the  rebel  saltpetre-works,  several  store 
houses,  and  about  five  hundred  small-arms. 

Several  skirmishes  occurred  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Oxford,  Mississippi,  between  Hatch's  brigade  and  the  reb 
el  forces  in  December ;  and,  on  the  4th  of  the  month,  that 
brigade,  with  one  commanded  by  Colonel  Lee,  attacked 
the  rebels  at  Water  Valley,  Mississippi,  in  which  the  lat 
ter  were  routed,  leaving  three  hundred  and  fifty  prison^ 
ers  in  the  hands  of  the  Union  soldiers. 

Brigadier  General  C.  C.  Washburne  led  an  expedition, 
composed  of  portions  of  several  cavalry  regiments,  from 
Helena,  Arkansas,  across  the  river  into  the  State  of  Mis 
sissippi  during  the  latter  part  of  November  and  first  part 
of  December.  He  had  two  skirmishes  with  the  enemy, 
in  both  of  which  he  was  successful,  and  accomplished  the 
main  object  of  his  expedition,  which  was  to  give  the  lead 
ers  of  the  rebel  forces  an  idea  that  his  force  was  the  ad 
vance-guard  of  a  large  Union  army  sent  in  to  cut  off  the 
retreat  of  General  Price  and  his  rebels  from  their  posi 
tion.  Price  believed  it,  and  left  accordingly.  Wash 
burne  had  his  force  divided  into  two  brigades,  as  follows, 


United  States  Cavalry.  261 

First  Brigade,  Colonel  J.  Hall  "Wilson,  5th  Illinois  Cav 
alry,  commanding. 

Commander.  No.  of  men. 

1st  Indiana  Cavalry  .  .  .  Captain  Walker 300 

9th  Illinois         "        ...  Major  Burgh 150 

3d  Iowa  "        ...  Major  Scott 188 

4th  Iowa  "         ...  Captain  Perkins 200 

5th  Illinois         "         ...  Major  Seeley 212 

Second  Brigade,  Colonel  Thomas  Stevens,  2d  Wisconsin 
Cavalry,  commanding. 

6th  Missouri  Cavalry  .  .  Major  Hawkins 150 

5th  Kansas          "  .  .  Lieut.  Col.  Jenkins  ....  208 

10th  Illinois        "  ,  .  Captain  Anderson  ....     92 

3d  Illinois  "  .- .  Lieut.  Col.  Euggles  ....  200 

2d  Wisconsin      "  .  .  Lieut,  Col.  Sterling  ....  225 

On  the  5th  of  December  a  severe  fight  occurred  be 
tween  our  cavalry  and  a  large  rebel  force  near  Coffee- 
ville,  Mississippi.  The  Union  troops,  over  two  thousand 
in  number,  under  command  of  Colonel  T.  Lyle  Dickey, 
of  the  4th  Illinois  Cavalry,  chief  of  cavalry  on  General 
Grant's  staff,  had  been  driving  the  enemy  before  them 
for  some  distance,  when  they  were  suddenly  checked  by 
coming  upon  a  large  force  of  rebel  infantry  and  a  battery 
of  artillery,  which  had  been  concealed  by  them  until  our 
people  approached  very  near.  Colonel  Dickey's  force 
was  in  three  brigades,  the  first  commanded  by  Colonel 
Lee,  of  the  7th  Kansas  Cavalry,  the  second  commanded 
by  Colonel  Hatch,  of  the  2d  Iowa  Cavalry,  and  the  third 
commanded  by  Colonel  Mizner,  of  the  3d  Michigan  Cav 
alry.  The  enemy  outnumbering  our  forces  so  greatly,  it 


262  History  of  the 

was  found  necessary  to  give  way,  and  Colonel  Dickey  or 
dered  his  men  to  fall  back.  Our  forces  retired  in  good 
order,  but  were  annoyed  by  the  enemy's  fire,  who  followed 
closely,  and  killed  and  wounded  many  of  our  men.  Aft 
er  the  enemy  had  followed  our  troops  three  miles,  they 
desisted  and  returned  to  Coffeeville,  the  Union  soldiers 
continuing  their  retreat  toward  Oxford,  Mississippi.  This 
was  a  most  unfortunate  affair  for  the  Union  forces,  though 
they  had  conducted  themselves  well,  and  had  done  every 
thing  that  brave  troops  could  do.  Colonels  Dickey,  Lee, 
and  Mizner ;  Lieutenant  Colonels  Prince  and  McCul- 
lough  ;  Majors  Coon,  Love,  and  Eickards,  and  those  un 
der  them  were  every  where  exposed  to  the  most  galling 
fire,  and  personally  directed  the  movements  of  their  com 
mands.  One  of  Colonel  Lee's  best  officers  was  killed, 
and  five  officers  of  the  2d  Iowa  Cavalry  were  wounded. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  William  McCullough,  of  the  4th  Illi 
nois  Cavalry,  a  brave  and  daring  officer,  was  killed  at  the 
head  of  his  column,  having  been  shot  through  the  breast. 
The  losses  to  the  United  States  troops  were  as  follows, 
viz. : 

Killed.    Wounded.      Missing. 

4th  Illinois  Cavalry,       1  13  3 

7th       "  "  3  11  20 

3d  Michigan     "210 
2dlowa  "  1  21  4 

7th  Kansas       "_!_§_§ 

Total 10  54  35  =  99 

The  rebel  cavalry  and  infantry  were  commanded  by 
General  Yan  Dorn,  whose  whole  force  was  estimated  at 
near  five  thousand  men. 


United  States  Cavalry.  263 

Captain  George  D.  Bayard,  of  the  4th  United  States 
Cavalry,  brigadier  general  of  volunteers,  died  December 
14th,  1862,  of  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  Freder- 
icksburg. 

At  the  battle  of  Prairie  Grove,  Arkansas,  fought  De 
cember  7th  by  Brigadier  Generals  Blunt  and  Herron, 
against  the  combined  rebel  forces  of  Hindman,  Marma- 
duke,  Parsons,  and  Frost,  the  cavalry  rendered  most  effi 
cient  service,  as  is  proved  by  the  reports  of  the  Union 
commanders.  The  cavalry  regiments  which  participated 
were  the  10th  Illinois,  Colonel  Wickersham ;  a  battalion 
of  the  1st  Missouri,  under  Major  Hubbard ;  the  7th  Mis 
souri  Cavalry  Volunteers,  Colonel  Dan.  Huston,  Jr. ;  the 
8th  Missouri,  Colonel  Geiger ;  the  1st  Iowa,  Colonel  An 
derson  ;  the  3d  Wisconsin,  Colonel  "William  A.  Barstow 
and  Major  Calkins ;  the  2d  Kansas,  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Bassett ;  and  a  portion  of  the  1st  Arkansas  Union  Cav 
alry. 

During  the  battle,  Colonel  Dan.  Huston,  Jr.,  of  the  7th 
Missouri  Cavalry,  commanded  the  2d  Division  of  Her- 
ron's  forces,  and  Colonel  Wickersham  commanded  the 
greater  portion  of  the  cavalry.  The  loss  to  the  mounted 
men  was  severe.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Bassett,  of  the  2d 
Kansas,  was  killed,  and  Captain  A.  P.  Russell,  of  the 
same  regiment,  was  mortally  wounded.  Major  Hubbard, 
of  the  1st  Missouri,  was  taken  prisoner.  Others,  equally 
worthy  and  meritorious,  were  lost,  but  where  all  behaved 
so  well  it  is  idle  to  make  distinctions.  The  result  of  this 
hard  and  well-fought  battle  was  the  retreat  of  the  rebel 
forces  who  had  started  out  to  invade  Missouri.  Our  loss 
was  so  severe  that  the  enemy  could  not  be  followed  close- 


264  History  of  the 

ly,  and  they  made  good  their  escape.  Their  loss  was 
very  heavy. 

On  the  12th  of  December,  Brigadier  General  D.  S.  Stan 
ley,  with  a  strong  force  of  Union  cavalry,  marched  from 
Nashville  to  Franklin,  Tennessee,  where  he  destroyed  a 
great  deal  of  rebel  property  and  captured  a  few  prisoners. 

On  the  18th  of  the  same  month,  Lexington,  Kentucky, 
was  occupied  by  a  large  force  of  rebels  under  General 
Forrest.  Before  capturing  the  town,  the  rebels  encoun 
tered  the  llth  regiment  of  Illinois  Cavalry,  under  Colo 
nel  R.  G.  Ingorsell,  who,  after  a  stout  resistance,  were 
forced  to  leave  the  field. 

Before  this,  however,  and  on  the  16th  of  December, 
one  of  the  most  successful  expeditions  occurred  which 
has  taken  place  during  the  war.  It  was  near  New  Ha 
ven,  Kentucky,  while  Buell's  army  was  falling  back  to 
ward  Louisville.  The  Union  force  consisted  of  seven 
hundred  men,  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Stewart,  of  the 
2d  Indiana  Cavalry,  as  follows :  two  hundred  and  fifty 
from  the  1st  Kentucky,  two  hundred  from  the  3d  Ken 
tucky,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  from  the  2d  Indiana 
Cavalry.  With  this  command,  Stewart  determined  to 
capture  the  whole  rebel  force,  which  was  known  to  be 
near  by.  As  the  enemy  was  on  the  alert,  and  using  the 
utmost  vigilance  to  prevent  surprise,  the  most  difficult 
part  was  to  capture  the  pickets,  so  as  not  to  give  the 
alarm.  Lieutenant  Coppage  and  Sergeant  Humphrey, 
with  twelve  men,  were  sent  forward  to  attempt  this  part, 
and  most  adroitly  and  gallantly  did  they  execute  it.  Ser 
geant  Humphrey  and  one  other  went  before  some  fifty 
yards,  with  instructions  that  if  there  were  only  two  men 


United  States  Cavalry.  265 

on  picket  to  dash  up  to  them,  and,  presenting  arms,  de 
mand  an  immediate  and  silent  surrender;  but,  in  case 
there  were  several  on  picket,  they  were  to  make  signal 
to  those  in  rear,  who  were  to  dash  forward  at  full  speed 
and  overpower  them,  or  give  chase,  and  the  whole  col 
umn  would  charge  after  them.  The  advance  two  came 
upon  the  first  picket  of  two  men,  and,  by  a  rapid  dash, 
captured  them  without  firing  a  gun  or  giving  any  alarm. 
The  second  picket  was  taken  in  the  same  way,  with  like 
success,  and  they  now  learned  that  there  was  a  third 
picket  of  fifteen  near  the  bridge  over  the  Boiling  Fork. 
The  first  twelve  were  now  sent  forward,  and  a  company 
detailed  to  advance  closely  behind  to  sustain  them.  By 
another  brilliant  dash  these  also  were  captured,  and  no 
gun  fired  to  alarm  the  camp,  now  about  a  mile  distant. 
The  rest  of  the  command  was  now  brought  up,  and  form 
ing  four  abreast,  they  dashed  across  the  bridge  at  full 
speed,  passed  through  the  town  of  New  Haven  into  the 
woods  beyond,  where  the  enemy's  camp  was  situated. 
The  sun  was  just  rising  as  they  entered  the  camp,  shout 
ing  wildly  and  carrying  terror  to  the  hearts  of  the  bewil 
dered  rebels,  who  were  completely  surprised.  The  colo 
nel  commanding  the  rebels  roused  up,  and,  rubbing  his 
eyes,  could  scarcely  understand  what  had  happened. 
Stewart,  with  his  long  hair,  came  riding  forward,  and  lift 
ing  his  broad-brimmed  black  hat  from  his  head,  said  to 
him,  in  tones  which  at  least  the  "secesh"  Colonel  Craw 
ford  never  has  forgotten,  "  Behold  the  conquering  hero 
comes."  Crawford  immediately  surrendered,  and  his 
quaking  and  panic-stricken  followers  were  only  too  glad 
to  be  allowed  to  do  the  same.  It  proved  that  Stewart 

M 


266  History  of  the 

had  captured  the  whole  of  the  3d  regiment  of  Georgia 
Cavalry,  a  portion  of  the  Kentucky  rebel  cavalry,  and 
some  Texas  Kangers,  without  even  firing  a  gun.  With 
his  game  thus  quietly  and  easily  bagged,  Lieutenant  Col 
onel  Stewart,  with  his  men,  returned  to  camp,  and  con 
tinued  on  his  way  toward  Louisville. 

General  Van  Dorn  attacked  and  captured  the  town  of 
Holly  Springs,  Mississippi,  on  the  20th  of  December. 
The  attack  was  sudden  and  overpowering,  and  the  garri 
son  was  speedily  captured.  Six  companies  of  the  2d  Il 
linois  Cavalry,  under  the  brave  Major  Mudd,  refused  to 
surrender,  and  cut  their  way  through  the  ranks  of  the 
enemy  and  escaped.  A  more  brave  and  gallant  action 
has  not  been  done  during  this  war,  as  the  command  was 
completely  surrounded,  and  had  been  called  upon  to  sur 
render  by  a  force  of  not  less  than  eight  thousand  men. 
Van  Dorn  destroyed  an  immense  amount  of  United  States 
property  in  this  affair,  and  his  treatment  to  the  sick  in 
hospital  is  said  to  have  been  barbarous  in  the  extreme. 

Colonel  Spears,  with  a  portion  of  the  llth  Pennsyl 
vania  Cavalry,  had  a  spirited  engagement  at  Joiner's 
Bridge,  four  miles  above  Franklin,  on  the  Blackwater 
Kiver,  Virginia,  on  the  24th  of  December,  with  a  rebel 
cavalry  detachment,  supported  by  a  body  of  infantry. 
The  Pennsylvanians  routed  the  rebels  completely,  dis 
persing  them  and  capturing  several  of  their  number. 

On  the  26th  of  December,  Major  Stivers,  of  the  14th 
Kentucky  Cavalry,  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  at 
tacked  a  large  party  of  guerrillas  in  Powell  County,  Ken 
tucky,  capturing  several,  and  completely  dispersing  the 
remainder,  who  outnumbered  the  Union  men,  but  who 


United  States  Cavalry.  267 

could  not  stand  up  against  them.  The  next  day,  Major 
Foley,  commanding  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  men  of 
the  6th  and  10th  Kentucky  Cavalry,  surprised  a  camp 
of  rebels  in  Campbell  County,  Tennessee,  numbering  three 
hundred  and  fifty.  Of  this  number  the  Union  troops 
claimed  that  they  killed  thirty,  wounded  one  hundred 
and  seventy-six,  and  captured  fifty-one,  without  the  loss 
of  a  man !  All  of  their  camp  equipage  was  burned,  eighty 
horses  and  a  large  amount  of  arms  captured.  This  state 
ment  is  made  in  accordance  with  General  "Wright's  dis 
patch.  Such  amazing  disparity  of  loss  is  almost  incredible. 
I  had  failed  to  mention  that  a  daring  reconnoissance 
was  made  by  a  portion  of  General  Si  gel's  command,  un 
der  General  Stahel,  who  met  and  attacked  the  enemy  at 
Snicker's  Ferry  on  the  28th  of  November.  Colonel  Di 
Cesnola,  of  the  4th  New  York  Cavalry,  Colonel  Wynd- 
ham,  1st  New  Jersey  Cavalry,  with  portions  of  their  own 
regiments  and  of  the  2d  Pennsylvania,  9th  New  York, 
and  1st  Michigan  Cavalry,  behaved  well ;  and,  as  Sigel 
says,  "  Our  men  charged  splendidly  whenever  they  met 
the  enemy,  and  used  their  swords,  no  fire-arms  being 
brought  into  use."  Forty  of  the  enemy,  belonging  to  the 
3d,  7th,  and  12th  Virginia  rebel  regiments,  were  captured, 
with  their  horses  and  arms,  fifty  were  killed  and  wound 
ed,  and  two  colors  taken.  Our  loss  was  fifteen  killed  and 
wounded.  Lieutenants  John  T.  Eutherford  and  N.  Her- 
rick,  of  the  9th  New  York  Cavalry,  and  Lieutenant  Mar- 
vine,  of  the  1st  Michigan  Cavalry,  were  among  the  wound 
ed.  The  conduct  of  Major  Knox,  Captain  Coffin,  and 
Lieutenant  Herrick  is  highly  spoken  of  by  their  com 
manding  officer. 


268  History  of  the 

When  Morgan  made  his  raid  into  Kentucky  in  Decem 
ber,  the  12th  Kentucky  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  Shanks, 
and  the  4th  and  5th  regiments  Indiana  Cavalry,  under 
Colonel  Gray,  harassed  his  march  very  much,  and  near 
Munfordville  had  three  quite  spirited  engagements.  The 
officers  above  mentioned,  with  Captains  Dickey  and  Twy- 
man,  rendered  valuable  services,  and  were  highly  spoken 
of.  Our  soldiers  captured  a  considerable  number  of  the 
rebels  with  very  small  loss  to  themselves.  Captain  Dick 
ey  commanded  a  portion  of  the  2d  Michigan  Cavalry  in 
these  skirmishes. 

THE   CAVALRY  AT   MURFREESBOROUGH. 

At  the  battle  of  Murfreesborough,  on  Stone's  Kiver, 
fought  on  the  31st  of  December,  1862,  and  the  1st  of  Jan 
uary,  1863,  the  cavalry  of  General  Eosecrans's  army,  com 
manded  by  Brigadier  General  David  S.  Stanley,  chief  of 
cavalry,  rendered  important  service.  The  first  brigade 
was  commanded  by  Colonel  Minty,  of  the  4th  Michigan 
Cavalry,  and  the  2d  by  Colonel  Lewis  Zahn,  of  the  3d 
Ohio  Cavalry.  The  reserve  cavalry,  consisting  of  the 
15th  Pennsylvania  (Anderson  Cavalry),  1st  Middle  Ten 
nessee,  2d  East  Tennessee,  and  four  companies  of  the  3d 
Indiana  regiments,  was  commanded  by  Stanley  in  person. 

On  the  28th  there  was  some  little  skirmishing,  and  on 
the  29th  of  December  the  reserve  cavalry  under  Stanley 
encountered  the  cavalry  of  the  enemy  in  strong  force  at 
Wilkinson's  Cross  Eoads.  Our  cavalry  drove  them  rap 
idly  across  Overall's  Creek,  and  within  one  half  mile  of 
the  enemy's  line  of  battle.  The  15th  Pennsylvania  be 
haved  most  gallantly,  pushing  at  full  charge  upon  the 


United  States  Cavalry.  269 

enemy  for  six  miles.  Unfortunately,  they  advanced  too 
far,  and  fell  upon  two  regiments  of  rebel  infantry  in  am 
bush,  and,  after  a  gallant  struggle,  were  compelled  to  re 
tire,  with  the  loss  of  Majors  Eosengarten  and  Ward,  and 
six  men  killed,  and  five  men  desperately  wounded.  On 
the  30th  the  entire  cavalry  force  was  engaged  in  guard 
ing  the  flanks  of  our  army  in  position,  and  nothing  of  im 
portance  was  done.  At  half  past  nine  o'clock  on  the 
31st  Stanley  was  ordered  to  hasten  to  the  right  of  our  in 
fantry  line,  which  was  giving  way.  Galloping  on  at  the 
head  of  the  first  brigade,  he  found,  upon  his  arrival  there, 
that  order  had  been  restored,  and  halted  his  men  in  a 
piece  of  woods.  In  this  position  our  cavalry  was  attack 
ed  about  four  o'clock  P.M.  by  a  long  line  of  foot  skir 
mishers.  With  Colonel  Minty  in  command  of  the  4th 
Michigan  and  7th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  Stanley  held 
the  enemy  at  bay  for  half  an  hour,  when,  seeing  he  was 
likely  to  be  outflanked,  he  ordered  his  men  to*  re  tire  to 
an  open  field.  The  enemy  followed,  when  Stanley,  being 
joined  by  the  loth  Pennsylvania,  3d  Kentucky,  and  1st 
Tennessee  Cavalry  regiments,  he  dashed  against  the  ene 
my,  and  routed  them  from  this  part  of  the  field. 

In  the  mean  time  the  1st,  2d,  and  3d  Ohio  and  2d  East 
Tennessee  regiments,  forming  the  second  brigade  under 
Colonel  Zahn,  had  occupied  the  extreme  right  of  our  line 
of  battle,  and  when  the  infantry  gave  way  early  on  the 
morning  of  the  31st,  they  were  for  a  time  nearly  cut  off 
from  the  main  body  of  our  forces  by  the  rebel  troops, 
which  had  been  hurled  against  our  line.  They  were 
forced  to  give  way  before  overwhelming  numbers  for 
some  distance,  when,  being  rallied,  they  in  turn  were 


270  History  of  the 

thrown  against  the  enemy  amid  a  fierce  cannonade,  and 
checked  the  advance  of  the  rebels.  In  this  charge  the 
gallant  Colonel  Milliken  and  Second  Lieutenant  Condit, 
of  the  1st  Ohio  Cavalry,  were  killed  outright,  and  Adju 
tant  Scott,  of  the  same  regiment,  was  severely  wounded. 
Before  this,  Major  Moore,  of  the  1st  Ohio  Cavalry,  had 
been  killed,  the  first  shell  from  the  enemy  having,  by  its 
explosion,  mortally  wounded  him,  and  he  expired  soon 
afterward.  Several  skirmishes  occurred  during  the  day, 
in  which  the  second  brigade  behaved  well. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1863,  the  enemy  showed  a  line 
of  skirmishers  in  the  woods  to  our  front,  and  soon  after 
brought  a  six-gun  battery  to  bear  upon  our  cavalry.  As 
our  men  could  not  reach  the  enemy's  skirmishers  nor  re 
ply  to  his  artillery,  Stanley  ordered  the  cavalry  to  fall 
back.  A  part  of  Zahn's  brigade  marched  this  day  to 
Nashville  to  protect  our  trains.  While  on  his  way,  a 
little  below  Lavergne  he  was  attacked  by  Wheeler's 
cavalry  brigade,  which  he  twice  repulsed,  killing  several 
of  them,  and  saved  all  of  the  train  but  one  or  two  wag 
ons,  which  were  broken  down  during  the  excitement. 

The  4th  regiment  of  United  States  Cavalry,  command 
ed  by  Captain  Elmer  Otis,  was  also  present  during  the 
battle,  acting  independently.  It  made  a  splendid  charge 
upon  the  enemy  on  the  morning  of  the  31st,  in  which 
over  a  hundred  prisoners  were  taken,  and  two  companies 
of  our  own  men  in  their  hands  were  released.  In  this 
charge,  Captain  Eli  Long  led  his  company  with  the  great 
est  gallantry,  and  was  wounded  by  a  ball  through  his  left 
arm.  Lieutenants  Mauck,  Kelly,  Lee,  and  Healy,  could 
not  have  done  better.  Sergeant  Major  John  Gr.  Webster 


United  States  Cavalnj.  271 

behaved  gallantly,  taking  a  lieutenant  mounted  on  a  fine 
mare. 

Colonel  John  Kennett,  of  the  4th  Ohio  Cavalry,  was 
present,  commanding  the  division  under  General  Stanley, 
and  accompanied  Minty's  brigade  most  of  the  time  during 
the  battle. 

Our  cavalry  engaged  was  as  follows : 

4th  Eegiment,  United  States  Cavalry,  Captain  Elmer 
Otis,  acting  independently. 

First  Brigade,  Colonel  Kobert  H.  G.  Minty,  commanding. 

7th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  Major  John  E.  Wynkoop. 

3d  Kentucky  Cavalry,  Colonel  Eli  H.  Murray. 

4th  Michigan  Cavalry,  Lieutenant  Colonel  W.  H.  Dick 
inson. 

One  company  of  the  2d  Indiana  Cavalry. 

.  Second  Brigade,  Colonel  Lewis  Zahn,  commanding. 
1st  Ohio  Cavalry,  Major  James  Laughlin. 
3d  Ohio  Cavalry,  Lieutenant  Colonel  D.  A.  Murray. 
4th  Ohio  Cavalry,  Major  J.  L.  Pugh. 

Reserve. 

1st  Middle  Tennessee  Cavalry,  Colonel  W.  B.  Stokes. 
2d  East  Tennessee  Cavalry,  Adjutant  William  S.  Hall. 
15th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  Colonel  William  J.  Pal 
mer. 

Four  companies  3d  Indiana  Cavalry,  Major  E.  Klein. 

% 

The  loss  to  the  cavalry  was  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
eight  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 


272  History  of  the 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers  killed  and  wound 
ed,  viz. : 

Killed. — Colonel  Minor  Milliken,  1st  Ohio  Cavalry  Vol 
unteers  ;  Major  D.  A.  B.  Moore,  1st  Ohio  Cavalry  Volun 
teers  ;  Major  Adolph  G.  Rosengarten,  15th  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry  Volunteers  ;  Major  Frank  B.  Ward,  15th  Penn 
sylvania  Cavalry  Volunteers  ;  Captain  Miller  E.  McCul- 
loch,  company  G,  2d  Kentucky  Cavalry ;  Captain  Mor 
ris,  company  L,  2d  East  Tennessee  Cavalry ;  Lieutenant 
T.  L.  Condit,  company  L,  1st  Ohio  Cavalry  Volunteers. 

Wounded. —  Captain  Eli  Long,  4th  regiment  United 
States  Regular  Cavalry ;  Captain  John  M.  Thomas,  com 
pany  I,  3d  Kentucky  Cavalry  ;  Captain  Wortham,  com 
pany  C,  1st  Tennessee  Cavalry;  Adjutant  William  II. 
Scott,  1st  Ohio  Cavalry  Volunteers  ;  Lieutenant  Thomas 
V.  Mitchell,  company  II,  4th  Michigan  Cavalry. 

Brigadier  General  Stanley,  in  his  official  report,  notices 
the  gallant  conduct  of  Colonels  Kennett,  Minty,  Murray, 
and  Zahn;  Majors  Kline,  Ward,  Rosengarten,  and  Wyn- 
koop ;  and  of  Captain  Otis. 

Major  General  Rosecrans.  in  his  report,  says  :  "  Briga 
dier  General  Stanley,  in  command  of  our  ten  regiments 
of  cavalry,  fought  the  enemy's  forty  regiments  of  cavalry 
and  held  them  at  bay,  and  beat  them  whenever  he  could 
meet  them." 

Six  companies  of  the  2d  Kentucky  Cavalry,  under 
command  of  Major  Thomas  I.  Nicholas,  served  in  General 
Rousseau's  division  during  the  battle,  doin£  good  service. 
They  were  ordered  down  to  watch  and  defend  the  fords 
on  Stone's  River,  near  Rousseau's  left  and  rear.  The 


United  States  Cavalry.  273 

cavalry  of  the  enemy  several  times,  in  force,  attempted  to 
cross  at  these  fords,  but  Nicholas  very  gallantly  repulsed 
them  with  loss,  and  they  did  not  cross  the  river. 

Captain  McCulloch,  of  this  regiment,  serving  on  the 
staff  of  Brigadier  General  Jefferson  C.  Davis,  was  killed. 
He  was  a  fine  officer,  and  his  loss  was  much  regretted. 

The  2d  and  3d  of  January  the  cavalry  was  engaged  in 
watching  the  flanks  of  our  position.  Upon  the  4th  it  be 
came  evident  that  the  enemy  had  fled.  The  cavalry  was 
collected  and  moved  to  the  fords  of  Stone's  Eiver,  and 
upon  the  5th  entered  Murfreesborough.  From  the  26th 
of  December  till  the  4th  of  January  the  saddles  were 
only  taken  off  to  groom,  and  were  immediately  replaced. 

The  rebel  General  John  Morgan  made  an  attack  upon 
the  Union  garrison  of  Lebanon,  Kentucky,  on  the  1st  of 
January,  1863,  and,  after  a  brisk  fight,  was  driven  off. 
Ninety  of  his  followers  were  taken  prisoners  and  several 
were  killed.  He  also  lost  his  caissons  and  ammunition 
wagons.  This  victory  over  the  rebels  was  rendered  sad 
by  the  death  of  Colonel  D.  J.  Halisy,  of  the  6th  regiment 
of  Kentucky  Cavalry,  who  was  killed  on  the  field.  He 
was  a  brave  and  daring  officer,  and  his  loss  was  a  severe 
one. 

General  Marmaduke,  at  the  head  of  a  horde  of  rebels, 
penetrated  into  the  State  of  Missouri,  and  on  the  8th  of 
January  made  an  attack  upon  the  town  of  Springfield. 
Our  first  line  which  opposed  him  was  made  up  of  the  3d 
Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  under  command  of  Colo 
nel  Walter  King,  the  4th  Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry, 
under  Colonel  George  H.  Hall,  and  a  battalion  of  the  14th 
Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  under  Lieutenant  Colonel 

M2 


274  History  of  the 

Pounds.  This  line  was  driven  back  gradually,  the  3d  and 
4th  regiments  behaving  admirably,  but  the  battalion  of  the 
14th  breaking  in  confusion.  Brigadier  General  Egbert  B. 
Brown,  the  commander  of  the  Union  troops,  was  present, 
and  directed  all  the  movements  of  our  troops  until  he  was 
stricken  down  by  a  rifle-ball,  which  shattered  his  right 
arm,  and  he  was  carried  from  the  field.  At  the  edge 
of  the  town  the  cavalry  halted,  and  being  joined  by  the 
infantry  and  artillery  and  the  battalion  of  the  14th,  which 
had  been  rallied,  they  fought  the  enemy  until  nightfall, 
when  darkness  put  an  end  to  the  action.  Our  troops 
prepared  to  renew  it  in  the  morning,  but  unde*  cover  of 
the  night  the  rebels  withdrew.  Our  loss  was  one  hund 
red  and  sixty-two  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  while 
that  of  the  enemy  was  equal,  if  not  greater. 

Brigadier  General  Fitz  Henry  Warren,  in  command  at 
Houston,  Missouri,  hearing  of  the  attack  upon  Spring 
field,  sent  the  greater  portion  of  his  command  on  the 
road  thither  to  re-enforce  General  Brown.  While  on  the 
march,  and  when  near  Hartsville,  Missouri,  these  troops 
met  the  enemy  under  Marmaduke,  who  was  falling  back 
from  Springfield  after  his  unsuccessful  assault  upon  that 
place.  The  advance  of  the  enemy  came  suddenly  upon 
our  troops,  who  had  barely  time  to  form  line  of  battle, 
early  on  the  morning  of  the  llth  of  January.  At  their 
first  fire,  Captain  Bradway,  of  the  3d  Missouri  Cavalry,  and 
two  of  his  men,  were  killed.  After  skirmishing  a  short 
time  the  enemy  fell  back  to  their  main  line,  which  was 
formed  near  the  town  of  Hartsville,  and  soon  the  action 
became  general.  The  fight  continued  until  night,  when 
the  enemy  commenced  retreating  toward  Arkansas,  and 


United  States  Cavalry.  275 

our  people,  being  too  weak  to  follow,  fell  back  toward. 
Houston.  The  3d  Iowa  Cavalry  and  the  3d  Missouri 
Cavalry  Volunteers  were  the  only  mounted  troops  of 
ours  in  the  fight.  Lieutenant  John  D.  Brown  and  three 
men  of  the  former  regiment  were  taken  prisoners  by  the 
enemy.  In  General  Warren's  official  report  he  speaks 
in  the  highest  terms  of  Captain  Black,  commanding  the 
3d  Missouri  Cavalry,  and  of  Captain  Lemon,  of  the  same 
regiment.  In  this  fight  the  rebel  Brigadier  General  Em- 
mett  McDonald,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  was  killed,  together 
with  Colonels  Porter,  Thompson,  and  Hinkle. 


276  History  of  ilie 


CHAPTER  XIY. 

Gallant  Fight  near  Barncsville,  Virginia. — Indian  Battle  in  Washington 
Territory. — Fight  near  Yorktown,  Virginia. — Major  Mudd  killed. — 
Skirmishes. — Cavalry  Fight  at  Kelly's  Ford. — Fight  at  Brentwood, 
Tennessee. — Grierson's  Raid. — Lieutenant  Colonel  Blackburn  killed. — 
Battle  of  Fayetteville,  Arkansas. 

THE  third  battalion  of  the  5th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry, 
commanded  by  Major  William  Gr.  McCandless,  made  a  re- 
connoissance  in  the  direction  of  Barnesville,  Virginia,  on 
the  19th  of  January,  1863,  thoroughly  scouting  all  the 
roads  branching  from  the  Richmond  and  Williamsburg 
Turnpike.  Two  companies  were  off  on  the  by  roads,  and 
two  were  left  on  the  main  pike  under  command  of  Cap 
tain  Cameron.  The  captain  sent  eighteen  men  forward 
as  an  advance-guard,  under  Lieutenant  Vezin,  and  the 
lieutenant  sent  Sergeant  Anderson,  with  six  of  these  men, 
about  two  hundred  yards  in  advance  of  his  party.  The 
squadron  marched  in  this  way  until  within  about  a  mile 
of  "  Burnt  Ordinary,"  when  there  rode  out  in  front  of  the 
six  men  under  Sergeant  Anderson  about  seventy  rebels, 
who  formed  line  across  the  road.  Seeing  this,  the  ser 
geant  turned,  and  was  surprised  to  find  his  retreat  cut 
off  by  another  party  of  twenty  rebels,  who  had  formed 
line  across  the  road  in  his  rear.  The  sergeant  and  his 
men  made  a  dash  at  those  in  rear,  and  all  were  captured 
except  the  sergeant,  who  cut  through  the  line,  and  suc 
ceeded  in  reaching  Lieutenant  Yezin  with  his  twelve 


United  States  Cavalry.  277 

men.  Vezin  immediatly  gave  orders  to  "  draw  sabres," 
and,  dashing  forward,  put  the  enemy  to  flight  and  recap 
tured  all  but  one  of  his  men.  This  was  a  daring  feat,  with 
scarce  a  parallel  in  the  war.  He  captured  four  rebel  sol 
diers  and  five  horses  fully  equipped.  Thirteen  men  and 
one  officer  put  to  flight  near  a  hundred  rebels  drawn  up 
in  line  of  battle ! 

Colonel  S.  H.  Mix,  of  the  3d  New  York  Cavalry,  en 
gaged  in  several  expeditions  with  his  regiment  during 
the  month  of  January,  in  which  he  captured  several  pris 
oners  and  obtained  some  valuable  information.  On  the 
25th  of  the  month  a  battalion  of  this  regiment  captured  a 
rebel  picket  near  Newbern,  North  Carolina,  and  took  nine 
rebels  prisoners,  with  their  horses  and  arms. 

During  the  same  month,  a  party  of  cavalry  from  the 
10th  Illinois  and  1st  Arkansas  Cavalry,  under  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Stewart,  captured  a  steam-boat  near  Yan  Buren, 
Arkansas,  and  about  three  hundred  prisoners. 

Colonel  Conner,  with  the  2d  regiment  of  California 
Cavalry  Volunteers,  had  a  severe  fight  with  the  Indians 
on  Bear  Eiver,  in  Washington  Territory,  on  the  29th  of 
January.  The  Indians  were  well  posted  in  a  strong  po 
sition,  and,  after  a  fight  of  three  hours,  were  forced  to  re 
treat  with  great  loss.  The  conduct  of  Colonel  Conner 
and  Majors  McGarry  and  Gallagher  is  highly  spoken  of. 
Lieutenant  Chase  was  killed,  Major  Gallagher,  Captain 
MclCean,  and  Lieutenant  Barry  were  wounded.  The  loss 
to  the  whites  was  fourteen  killed  and  forty -nine  wounded. 

A  severe  hand  to  hand  sabre  fight  took  place  in  the 
vicinity  of  Eover,  Tennessee,  January  31st,  between  a 
body  of  Union  cavalry,  under  Colonel  Kennett,  and  a 


278  History  of  the 

body  of  rebels,  which,  terminated  in  the  complete  rout  of 
the  latter,  with  a  loss  of  twelve  killed  on  the  field,  about 
the  same  number  wounded,  and  three  hundred  taken 
prisoners. 

Colonel  Stokes's  5th  regiment  of  Union  Tennessee  Cav 
alry  dashed  upon  a  camp  of  rebels  near  Middletown,  Ten 
nessee,  and,  by  a  brilliant  sabre  charge,  captured  about 
one  hundred  prisoners,  with  all  their  camp  equipage,  etc. 
Major  Douglass  and  all  of  his  officers  were  taken. 

On  the  7th  of  February,  a  deserter  from  the  rebels 
came  into  camp  at  Yorktown, Virginia,  and  said  that  there 
were  twenty-five  more  deserters  who  were  anxious  to 
come  into  the  Union  lines,  but  were  afraid  they  would  be 
fired  upon.  Colonel  Lewis,  of  the  5th  Pennsylvania  Cav 
alry,  sent  out  a  squadron  of  his  regiment  to  escort  them 
in.  When  about  five  miles  from  camp,  they  were  fired 
upon  by  a  party  of  rebels  who  were  secreted  along  the 
sides  of  the  road,  and  twenty  Union  saddles  were  emptied 
in  an  instant.  At  this  time  a  rebel  cavalry  party  was 
seen  coming  down  the  road  in  front,  when  our  cavalry 
put  spurs  to  their  horses  and  dashed  toward  them.  They 
had  gone  but  a  short  distance,  when  horses  and  men  com 
menced  falling  and  rolling  over  one  another  in  the  wild 
est  confusion.  The  rebels  had  stretched  telegraph  wires 
across  the  road  from  tree  to  tree  on  either  side,  and  as 
the  cavalry  came  along  they  tripped  and  fell,  doing  much 
damage.  In  this  condition  the  rebel  troops  fired  into 
our  men,  killing  a  lieutenant  and  mortally  wounding  a 
captain.  One  captain  and  one  lieutenant  were  taken 
prisoners,  and  thirty-five  of  our  men  were  missing,  and 
were  either  killed  or  taken  prisoners.  This  was  a  most 


United  States  Cavalry.  279 

disastrous  affair,  but  showed  great  ingenuity  on  the  part 
of  the  rebels  who  planned  it. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  a  squadron  of  the  5th  Michi 
gan  Cavalry  was  surprised  by  the  enemy  at  Anandale, 
Virginia,  and  were  forced  to  retreat  with  a  loss  of  fifteen 
killed  and  missing,  and  several  wounded.  » 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Wood,  with  a  portion  of  the  1st  In 
diana  Cavalry,  surprised  a  party  of  rebels  near  Yazoo 
Pass,  Mississippi,  February  19th,  killing  nine  and  captur 
ing  fifteen.  The  next  day,  near  the  same  place,  the  5th 
Illinois  Cavalry  had  another  skirmish  with  the  enemy, 
who  lost  six  killed  and  twenty-six  captured. 

Major  Mudd,  of  the  2d  Illinois  Cavalry,  was  killed  in 
a  skirmish  which  took  place  near  Greenville,  Mississippi, 
on  the  23d  of  February.  He  was  a  gallant  officer,  and 
behaved  very  well  at  the  time  Holly  Springs  was  cap 
tured  by  Yan  Dorn,  he  refusing  to  surrender,  and  making 
his  escape  with  the  greater  portion  of  his  regiment. 

On  the  25th  of  February,  a  cavalry  scout  of  the  enemy 
attacked  our  pickets  on  the  Strasburg  Koad,  Virginia, 
and,  after  capturing  twelve  of  our  men  and  wounding 
two  more,  retired.  A  force  of  five  hundred  men  from 
the  1st  New  York  and  13th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  was 
sent  oiit  on  the  26th  in  pursuit,  and  beyond  Strasburg 
recaptured  our  men  and  took  some  prisoners.  While  the 
Union  cavalry  was  resting  in  the  road,  they  were  sud 
denly  charged  upon  by  a  superior  force  of  rebel  cavalry, 
thrown  in  confusion,  and,  after  a  weak  resistance,  retreat 
ed,  losing  about  two  hundred  men  in  killed  and  missing. 

A  skirmish  took  place  about  fifteen  miles  from  New- 
bern,  North  Carolina,  on  the  27th  of  February,  between 


280  History  of  the    . 

a  detachment  of  the  3d  New  York  Cavalry,  under  com 
mand  of  Captain  Jacobs,  and  a  strong  party  of  rebel  in 
fantry.  The  cavalry  dashed  suddenly  upon  the  rebels, 
killed  several,  and  captured  forty-eight,  including  a  com 
missioned  officer. 

On  the  1st  of  March  a  fight  occurred  near  Brady  ville, 
Tennessee,  between  a  cavalry  force  under  General  Stan 
ley  and  the  rebels  under  Colonel  Basil  Duke.  Stanley's 
force  consisted  of  the  3d  Ohio,  Colonel  J.  W.  Paramore, 
4th  Ohio,  Colonel  Eli  Long,  and  a  part  of  the  1st  Tennes 
see  Cavalry,  under  Major  Murphy,  in  all  about  seven 
hundred  men.  For  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  the  rebels 
made  a  stubborn  resistance,  until  our  flanking  detach 
ments  arrived  in  position  and  opened  an  enfilading  fire 
upon  both  flanks  of  the  rebel  line.  They  immediately 
gave  way  in  confusion,  when  our  men  charged  gallantly 
among  them  with  sabres  and  pistols,  cut  down  a  number 
as  they  ran,  and  drove  them  in  utter  rout  a  distance  of 
three  miles.  Five  dead  rebels  were  found  on  the  field, 
from  thirty  to  forty  were  wounded,  and  nearly  a  hundred 
prisoners  were  left  in  our  hands.  Among  the  latter  were 
eight  commissioned  officers,  including  the  adjutant  of  the 
2d  Kentucky  (rebel)  Cavalry.  On  our  side,  Captain 
Eifenberick,  of  the  4th,  and  Lieutenant  Hall,  of  the  3d 
Ohio,  were  wounded ;  two  privates  were  killed  and  four 
wounded. 

The  1st  regiment  of  East  Tennessee  Cavalry  captured 
seventy -two  rebels  and  killed  twelve  at  Chapel  Hill,  Ten 
nessee,  on  the  3d  of  March.  Majors  Macy  and  Burkhart 
were  in  command  of  the  Union  troops. 

A  detachment  of  United  States  troops,  belonging  to  the 


United  States  Cavalry.  283 

6th  and  7th  Illinois  Cavalry,  attacked  the  camp  of  the 
rebel  Colonel  Richardson,  near  Covington,  Tennessee,  on 
the  9th  of  March,  killed  twenty-five  of  them,  took  some 
prisoners,  and  burned  the  camp  and  garrison  equipage. 
In  the  headlong  stampede  of  the  remaining  rebels,  they 
came  near  rushing  into  the  hands  of  the  4th  Illinois  and 
2d  Iowa  regiments,  who  were  also  out  after  them. 


A  cavalry  action  took  place  at  Kelly's  Ford,Virginia, 
on  the  17th  of  March,  1863,  between  the  Union  forces 
under  General  Averill  and  the  rebels  commanded  by  J. 
E.  B.  Stuart  and  Fitzhugh  Lee.  The  United  States  force 
consisted  of  the  1st  and  oth  regiments  of  United  States 
Regular  Cavalry,  under  Captain  Reno ;  1st  Massachusetts 
Cavalry,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Curtis ;  3d,  4th,  and  16th 
Pennsylvania,  under  Colonel  John  B.  Mclntosh ;  1st 
Rhode  Island,  4th  New  York,  and  6th  Ohio,  Colonel  Duf- 
fie ;  and  the  6th  New  York  flying  battery  of  six  guns. 
On  riding  down  to  the  ford  on  the  morning  of  the  17th 
at  daylight,  to  cross  over,  the  enemy  were  found  to  be  in 
strong  force  on  the  opposite  side,  having  posted  numer 
ous  pickets,  and  constructed  a  formidable  abattis  along 
the  bank.  A  detachment  of  the  4th  New  York  charged 
down  into  the  stream,  and  attempted  to  force  a  passage, 
but  were  met  and  repulsed  by  a  strong  force  of  the  ene 
my.  Rallying,  they  dashed  into  the  river,  and  were 
again  repulsed.  A  third  attempt  proved  no  more  suc 
cessful.  At  this  juncture,  Lieutenant  Brown,  followed  by 
a  squadron  of  the  1st  Rhode  Island,  plunged  boldly  in, 
cut  their  way  through  the  abattis,  and,  charging  up  the 


284  History  of  the 

acclivity,  routed  the  enemy.  The  whole  force  then 
crossed  over  and  formed  line  of  battle.  This  was  about 
half  past  seven  in  the  morning.  At  the  ford  twenty-four 
prisoners  were  captured. 

As  the  men  moved  forward  up  the  acclivity,  the  rebels, 
who  in  the  mean  time  had  rallied,  charged  upon  us,  when 
the  1st  Khode  Island  met  them  with  a  counter  charge  and 
put  them  to  flight.  The  second  time,  the  rebels  once 
more  attempting  to  rally,  the  5th  United  States  Cavalry 
seized  the  opportunity,  dashed  at  them,  and  they  again 
broke  and  ran  wildly.  The  3d  Pennsylvania  Cavalry, 
posted  to  the  right,  likewise  charged  upon  the  force  op 
posed  to  them  most  successfully.  The  16th  Pennsylva 
nia,  still  farther  to  the  right,  did  splendid  execution,  many 
of  the  rebels  being  dismounted.  Our  artillery,  in  the 
mean  time,  kept  playing  on  the  fleeing  rebels  and  quick 
ening  their  speed.  Our  line  now  moved  forward  about  a 
mile  and  a  half  from  the  river ;  as  it  moved,  our  men 
kept  charging,  forming,  and  taking  prisoners,  until  the 
outskirts  of  a  wood  were  reached. 

Here  Averill  again  arranged  his  regiments  in  line  of 
battle,  keeping  the  1st  regiment  of  United  States  Cavalry 
in  reserve.  Our  men  moved  through  the  woods  steadily 
and  rapidly,  firing  as  they  went.  Another  open  space 
was  reached,  and  found  to  be  full  of  skirmishers.  The 
firing  now  became  very  brisk,  the  enemy  for  the  first 
time  opening  on  us  with  artillery,  of  which  they  had 
twelve  pieces.  Their  solid  shot  and  shell  fell  thick  and 
fast  among  our  men,  but  they  pressed  on,  inspired  by  the 
success  already  won,  and  led  forward  by  their  officers. 

After  so  many  brilliant  and  profitable  dashes  on  our 


United  States  Cavalry.  285 

part,  the  rebels  thought  it  well  to  attempt  again  some 
thing  in  that  line  themselves,  and  charged.  They  ran 
against  the  3d  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  which  broke  them 
instantly.  From  the  time  of  crossing  the  river  there  had 
been  many  personal  encounters ;  single  horsemen  dashed 
at  each  other  at  full  speed,  cutting  away  with  their  sabres 
until  one  or  the  other  was  disabled.  The  wounds  re 
ceived  by  both  friend  and  foe  in  these  single  combats 
were  frightful  in  the  extreme. 

Our  men  continued  to  drive  the  rebels,  they  skirmish 
ing  and  using  their  artillery  as  they  retreated.  The  Union 
soldiers  had  now  been  fighting  several  hours,  but,  regard 
less  of  themselves,  pursued  their  mission  of  keeping  the 
rebels  traveling,  and  did  it  most  effectually.  In  this  way 
Averill  chased  the  enemy  six  miles,  and  until  he  came 
upon  a  line  of  rifle-pits  which  were  filled  with  rebel  in 
fantry.  Seeing  that  he  could  not  move  them,  he  determ 
ined  to  retire,  as  his  artillery  ammunition  was  expended, 
and  he  could  do  no  farther  good.  Detachments  of  cav 
alry  were  deployed  in  front  of  the  artillery,  and  the  whole 
force  commenced  its  return  march,  Captain  Eeno,  with 
a  portion  of  the  regular  cavalry,  covering  the  rear.  Cap 
tain  Sandford,  with  three  squadrons  of  the  1st  U.  States 
Cavalry,  assisted  by  Lieutenants  Hunt  and  Bigelow,  did 
good  service  supporting  the  battery.  On  the  return,  at 
one  time  this  command  was  in  danger  of  being  annihila 
ted.  The  men  were  stationed  to  the  left  of  the  battery, 
within  easy  supporting  distance,  ready  to  charge  upon  the 
rebels  should  they  attempt  to  take  it.  No  sooner,  how 
ever,  had  our  guns  ceased  firing  for  want  of  ammunition, 
than  the  rebels  turned  their  fire  upon  the  supporting 


286  History  of  the 

cavalry,  keeping  it  up  for  a  long  period,  and  making  sad 
havoc  among  the  horses.  The  cavalry  could  not  leave 
their  positions,  for  the  guns  would  have  been  lost.  They 
succeeded  in  bringing  all  the  pieces  away,  notwithstand 
ing  many  of  the  horses  were  shot.  At  sundown  General 
Averill  retired  to  the  north  bank  of  the  river. 

The  following  officers  were  killed  and  wounded : 

Lieutenant  Cook,  1st  Khode  Island,  killed ;  Lieutenant 
Dimmock,  4th  New  York,  mortally  wounded ;  Major 
Chamberlain,  chief  of  staff,  wounded;  Lieutenant  Bow- 
ditch,  1st  Massachusetts,  severely  wounded ;  Major  Far- 
rington,  1st  Khode  Island,  wounded ;  Captain  Weichel, 
3d  Pennsylvania,  wounded ;  Lieutenant  Wolfe,  6th  Ohio, 
wounded ;  Captain  McBride,  6th  Pennsylvania,  wound 
ed  ;  Lieutenant  Thompson,  1st  Ehode  Island,  wounded. 

Our  total  loss  did  not  exceed  fifty  in  killed  and  wound 
ed,  while  that  of  the  enemy  was  considerably  greater. 
Major  Breckinridge,  of  the  1st  Virginia  (rebel)  Cavalry, 
and  about  fifty  men,  were  captured. 

This  was  purely  a  cavalry  fight,  and  reflects  credit 
upon  the  actors. 

A  force  of  national  cavalry,  under  the  command  of 
Colonel  E.  H.  G.  Minty,  of  the  4th  Michigan  Cavalry,  re 
turned  to  Murfreesborough,  Tennessee,  on  the  14th  of 
March,  after  a  successful  reconnoissance  of  eleven  days' 
duration  in  the  enemy's  country,  during  which  time  he 
dispersed  several  bands  of  guerrillas,  captured  fifty  pris 
oners,  a  number  of  wagons  and  mules,  and  obtained  much 
valuable  information  concerning  the  rebels. 

On  the  18th  of  March,  a  portion  of  the  First  Louisiana 
National  Cavalry,  under  Captain  Perkins,  followed  a  par- 


United  States  Cavalry.  287 

ty  of  rebel  cavalry  some  distance  inside  the  rebel  lines 
near  Brasbear  City,  Louisiana,  when,  coming  upon  an  ad 
ditional  force  of  cavalry,  he  was  obliged  to  retreat,  but 
was  closely  followed,  and  kept  up  the  fight  for  several 
miles.  The  loss  on  each  side  amounted  to  four  or  five 
killed  and  as  many  wounded. 

Brentwood,  Tennessee,  was  captured  and  sacked  by  the 
rebels,  under  Generals  Wheeler,  Forrest,  and  Armstrong, 
on  the  25th  of  March,  1863.  After  the  capture,  the  rebel 
forces  were  pursued  by  a  body  of  national  troops,  under 
General  Green  Clay  Smith,  consisting  of  portions  of  the 
9th  Pennsylvania,  4th  and  6th  Kentucky,  and  2d  Michi 
gan  Cavalry  regiments,  numbering  about  five  hundred 
and  fifty  men.  After  a  pursuit  of  nine  miles,  General 
Smith  came  upon  the  enemy  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle, 
and,  ordering  his  troops  into  line,  he  gave  directions  for 
the  men  to  "  go  in,"  and  at  it  they  went  with  their  Colt's 
revolving  rifles  and  Burnside  carbines.  The  enemy  could 
not  stand  the  firing,  and  broke  their  line,  commencing  a 
disorderly  retreat,  and  abandoning  the  plunder  which 
they  had  taken  at  Brentwood.  They  were  driven  six 
miles,  when,  coming  to  a  cross  road,  a  large  body  of  rebel 
cavalry  was  seen  advancing  on  it  toward  our  troops. 
This  was  more  than  our  people  could  stand,  when,  in 
turn,  they  commenced  retreating  before  the  enemy.  In 
good  order  they  moved  off,  turning  frequently  upon  the 
rebels,  and  delivering  some  fires  which  made  them  fairly 
reel.  The  2d  Michigan,  with  their  Colt's  rifles,  had  to 
fire  three  volleys  in  one  furious  charge  of  the  enemy  be 
fore  they  would  check  their  advance.  The  last  fire  fairly 
flashed  in  the  faces  of  their  horses  before  they  turned. 


288  History  of  the 

Finally,  however,  they  gave  up  the  pursuit.  Our  loss 
was  considerable,  as  was  that  of  the  enemy ;  and  though 
our  cavalry  was  forced  back,  it  did  so  steadily,  and  lost 
no  honor  in  the  fight.  They  did  all  that  men  could  do, 
but  the  superior  numbers  of  the  rebels  were  too  much  for 
them. 

A  detachment  of  the  6th  Illinois  Cavalry,  under  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel  Loomis,  while  encamped  near  Somerville, 
Tennessee,  on  the  29th  of  March,  were  surprised  by  a 
body  of  rebel  troops,  when,  after  a  most  sanguinary  fight, 
they  were  driven  off,  but  not  until  they  had  killed  and 
wounded  over  forty  of  the  Illinoisans. 

On  the  1st  of  April,  Captain  Mosby,  of  the  rebel  cav 
alry,  made  his  appearance  near  Broad  Ran, Virginia.  His 
band  was  immediately  attacked  by  a  portion  of  the  1st 
Yermont  Cavalry  regiment.  After  a  short  fight,  the  guer 
rillas  fled,  and  sought  safety  behind  a  high  fence,  whence 
it  was  found  impossible  to  dislodge  them.  In  this  fight, 
Captain  Flint,  a  lieutenant,  and  several  men  of  the  Ver- 
monters  were  wounded. 

General  Stanley  made  a  successful  scout  against  the 
rebels  located  near  Snow  Hill,  Tennessee,  on  the  2d  of 
April.  Here  the  7th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  and  the  2d 
and  4th  Ohio  Cavalry  charged  upon  their  line  in  rear, 
breaking  it,  and  scattering  the  rebels  in  all  directions. 
Colonel  Minty,  with  his  cavalry,  at  the  same  time  attack 
ed  them  in  front.  Forty  were  killed  and  wounded, 
and  sixty  taken  prisoners ;  besides  which,  three  hundred 
horses  were  also  taken  and  carried  into  Murfreesborough. 
The  Union  loss  was  very  light. 

Two  companies  of  the  1st  Arkansas  Union  Cavalry, 


United  States  Cavalry.  289 

under  Captain  "Worthington,  made  a  scout  in  Carroll 
County,  Arkansas,  in  April,  in  which  they  had  four  fights 
with  the  guerrillas  and  rebels,  killing  twenty-four  and 
taking  seven  prisoners.  Captains  Smith  and  McFarland 
were  killed,  and  Captain  Walker  was  taken  prisoner. 

A  detachment  of  the  llth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  was 
attacked  in  the  vicinity  of  Suffolk,  "Virginia,  by  a  strong 
body  of  rebels,  on  the  13th  of  April,  and  were  forced  to 
take  refuge  behind  some  works;  but,  being  re-enforced, 
they  sallied  out  in  the  afternoon,  and  easily  put  the  rebels 
to  flight. 

General  Van  Born  attacked  the  town  of  Franklin,  Ten 
nessee,  on  the  llth  of  April,  and,  after  a  severe  fight, 
was  driven  off.  The  main  feature  of  the  battle  was  a 
magnificent  charge  made  by  the  4th  United  States  Eegu- 
lar  Cavalry,  under  command  of  Captain  James  B.  Mcln- 
tyre,  upon  the  enemy's  lines,  in  which  he  captured  six 
pieces  of  artillery  and  two  hundred  prisoners !  It  was 
pronounced  one  of  the  finest  charges  ever  made  by  Unit 
ed  States  troops.  Second  Lieutenant  Thomas  Healy,  of 
that  regiment,  was  mortally  wounded,  and  died  at  Frank 
lin  on  the  23d  of  April. 


On  the  17th  of  April,  1863,  Colonel  Benjamin  H.Grier- 
son,  of  the  6th  Illinois  Cavalry,  left  La  Grange,  Tennes 
see,  with  his  own  regiment,  and  the  7th  Illinois  and  2d 
Iowa,  commanded  respectively  by  Colonels  Edward 
Prince  and  Edward  Hatch,  on  a  raid  through  the  State 
of  Mississippi,  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  enemy's 
railroad  and  ascertaining  their  resources.  On  the  18th 

N 


290  History  of  the 

— the  7th  Illinois  moving  in  advance — they  left  camp  at 
eight  o'clock,  passing  through  Kipley,  and  moved  south 
toward  New  Albany.  One  battalion,  under  Captain  Gra 
ham,  was  sent  on  the  direct  road,  to  save  the  bridge 
across  the  Tallahatchie  and  to  drive  away  a  party  of  sol 
diers  who  were  attempting  to  destroy  it.  The  rest  of  the 
command  crossed  three  miles  east  of  New  Albany,  and 
arrived  in  that  town  at  half  past  five  P.M.,  whence  the 
command,  6th  and  7th  Illinois,  moved  south  five  miles 
and  encamped  on  Mr.  Sloan's  plantation. 

Colonel  Hatch,  with  the  2d  Iowa  Cavalry,  was  detach 
ed  at  Kipley,  Mississippi,  with  orders  to  move  eastwardly 
and  then  southwardly,  to  cross  the  Tallahatchie  some  five 
miles  above  New  Albany,  with  a  view  of  rejoining  the 
command  five  or  six  miles  below  that  place,  which  Hatch 
accomplished  the  following  day  with  good  success.  On 
this  day  the  7th  Illinois  captured  four  prisoners  belong 
ing  to  rebel  commands. 

On  the  morning  of  the  19th  two  companies  were  sent, 
under  command  of  Captain  Trafton,  back  to  the  Talla 
hatchie,  driving  a  body  of  rebels  out  of  New  Albany,  and 
rejoined  the  command  at  ten  A.M.  Colonel  Prince  also 
sent  two  companies  to  the  right  to  look  after  a  company 
of  rebels,  but  they  had  retired  during  the  night.  This 
detachment  captured  three  men  of  Chalmers's  command, 
and  destroyed  some  camp  and  garrison  equipage.  Two 
companies  were  also  sent  to  the  left  to  find  some  horses 
which  were  secreted  in  the  woods,  and  they  returned  at 
ten  o'clock,  having  met  with  good  success.  The  com 
mand  left  camp  shortly  after  ten  o'clock  A.M.,  and  reach 
ed  Pontotoc  at  four  P.M.,  and  encamped  on  a  plantation 


HAP  OF  GrJEESOX's  RAID. 


United  States  Cavalry.  293 

eight  miles  south  of  that  place.  At  Pontotoc  a  rebel 
named  Eeno  was  killed  who  persistently  continued  to  fire 
upon  the  advance  of  the  command.  The  distance  trav 
eled  on  the  18th  and  19th  was  about  sixty  miles. 

On  the  20th  the  command  left  camp  at  four  o'clock 
A.M.  Before  leaving,  about  one  hundred  and  twelve 
men,  with  a  number  of  led  horses,  were  sent  back  to  La 
Grange,  under  command  of  Major  Love,  of  the  2d  Iowa. 
In  the  evening  Grierson's  men  encamped  at  Clear  Springs, 
Mississippi,  having  traveled  about  forty  miles  and  passed 
around  Houston. 

On  the  21st  the  command  left  camp  at  daylight.  Here 
Colonel  Hatch,  with  the  2d  Iowa  Cavalry,  was  detached 
and  sent  eastward,  with  orders  to  proceed  toward  Colum 
bus  and  destroy  as  much  of  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Kailroad 
as  he  could.  He  took  no  farther  part  in  the  raid.  The 
two  Illinois  regiments  traveled  along  all  day  .in  a  pelting 
rain,  making  about  forty-five  miles,  and  encamped  eight 
miles  south  of  Starkville. 

At  daylight  on  the  22d  the  command  was  again  in  mo 
tion,  and,  after  traveling  about  two  miles,  Captain  Forbes, 
of  company  C,  7th  Illinois,  was  detached,  and  ordered 
to  proceed  to  Macon  and  break  up  the  Mobile  and  Ohio 
Eailroad,  to  destroy  the  telegraph  wires,  and  do  as  much 
damage  as  possible  to  the  enemy's  transportation.  It  be 
came  a  matter  of  vital  importance  to  the  expedition  that 
the  railroad  communication,  or,  at  least,  telegraphic  com 
munication,  should  be  cut  off  between  Macon  and  Okolo- 
na  as  near  Macon  as  possible,  and  Captain  Forbes  was 
sent  on  this  perilous  errand.  He  and  his  men  took  leave 
of  their  comrades,  not  knowing  but  this  was  the  last  time 


294  History  of  the 

they  would  see  them  on  earth.  Before  marching  on  the 
22d,  Captain  Graham,  with  a  battalion,  had  destroyed  a 
Confederate  factory  containing  a  large  quantity  of  boots, 
shoes,  and  hats,  belonging  to  the  rebel  army,  and  cap 
turing  a  quartermaster  who  was  getting  supplies  for  his 
regiment.  The  march  of  the  22d  was  terrible,  as  the 
swamps  of  the  Okanoxubee  Kiver  were  overflowed,  and 
the  water  pn  the  road  was  from  three  to  four  feet  deep, 
with  mire-holes  in  which  both  horse  and  man  would  oc 
casionally  be  lost  to  sight.  To  those  near  the  rear  of  the 
column  the  march  was  truly  painful,  and  about  twenty 
noble  horses  were  abandoned  and  drowned,  as  they  could 
not  extricate  themselves  from  the  mud.  The  saddles 
were  transferred  to  other  animals,  and  thus  the  march 
continued  until  one  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  23d. 
This  dreary  night-march  was  made  along  dark  roads, 
rendered  doubly  black  by  the  overhanging  branches  of 
the  great  trees  which  loomed  up  on  each  side  of  the  way 
in  the  swamp.  The  distance  traveled  was  fifty-seven 
miles. 

After  resting  three  hours  the  men  were  again  in  the 
saddles,  and,  knowing  Pearl  Eiver  to  be  very  high  on  ac 
count  of  recent  rains,  Colonel  prince  pushed,  for  ward  with 
great  energy,  and  arrived  at  the  bridge  over  that  river 
just  in  time  to  save  it,  as  the  rebels  had  commenced  tear 
ing  it  up ;  and  had  they  succeeded,  the  expedition  would 
have  been  a  failure.  At  ten  o'clock  P.M.,  Lieutenant  Col 
onel  Blackburn,  of  the  7th  Illinois,  was  sent  forward  with 
two  hundred  men  to  Decatur,  which  place  he  reached  at 
four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  and  captured 
two  trains  of  cars  and  two  locomotives  at  Newton  Sta- 


United  States  Cavalry.  295 

tion  at  seven  o'clock.  The  rest  of  the  command  arrived 
at  nine.  The  bridges  and  trestles  were  burned  six  miles 
each  side  of  the  station,  seventy -five  prisoners  captured 
and  paroled,  two  warehouses  full  of  commissary  stores 
utterly  destroyed  by  fire,  and  also  four  car  loads  of  am 
munition,  mostly  for  heavy  artillery.  The  bridges  on  the 
east  side  of  the  station  were  burned  by  Major  Starr,  with 
a  battalion  of  the  6th  Illinois.  On  the  night  of  the  2-ith 
the  command  encamped  twelve  miles  below  Newton,  hav 
ing  traveled  eighty  miles  on  the  23d  and  2-ith  without 
scarcely  halting. 

On  the  25th  the  command  marched  about  twenty  miles. 
On  the  26th  they  left  camp  at  daylight,  passed  through 
Ealeigh,  crossed  Strong  Eiver  near  Westville,  and  halted 
near  Strong  Eiver  Bridge,  having  marched  forty-one 
miles.  Colonel  Prince  was  sent  forward  with  two  hund 
red  men  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  at  one  o'clock,  and 
reached  the  bank  of  the  Pearl  Eiver  before  daylight, 
when,  contrary  to  his  expectation,  he  found  the  ferry 
boat  on  the  opposite  side.  A  short  time  afterward,  an 
old  man,  who  kept  the  ferry,  came  down  to  the  bank  of 
the  river,  and,  seeing  the  cavalrymen,  supposed  they  were 
Alabamians,  and  asked  if  they  wished  to  cross.  Being 
answered  affirmatively,  he  poled  his  boat  over,  which  was 
seized  by  our  men,  and  thenceforth  became  Yankee  prop 
erty.  All  of  our  people  crossed  safely,  and  were  soon 
followed  by  Captain  Forbes,  who  had  been  detached,  as 
before  mentioned,  on  the  22d.  Having  been  unable  to 
take  Macon,  he  returned,  and  followed  the  trail  of  Grier- 
son's  men  to  Newton,  where  he  was  informed  that  our 
cavalry  had  gone  to  Enterprise,  on  the  Mobile  and  Ohio 


296  History  of  the 

Kailroad.  He  followed  on  to  that  place  with  his  com 
pany,  where  he  found  about  two  thousand  rebel  troops 
just  getting  off  the  cars.  He  promptly  raised  a  flag  of 
truce,  and  boldly  rode  forward,  demanding  the  surrender 
of  the  place  to  Colonel  Grierson,  as  he  saw  this  was  the 
only  way  to  extricate  himself.  The  rebel  officer,  Colonel 
Goodwin,  asked  one  hour  to  consider  the  proposition,  and 
he  would  then  let  Colonel  Grierson  know  his  determina 
tion.  This  was  all  Captain  Forbes  wanted;  and,  mov 
ing  leisurely  out  of  town  and  out  of  sight  of  the  rebels, 
he  put  spurs  to  his  jaded  horses,  and  left  as  much  ground 
between  himself  and  Colonel  Goodwin  as  he  could  possi 
bly  do.  It  is  not  known  to  this  day  what  conclusion  Col 
onel  Goodwin  came  to  with  regard  to  the  surrender  of 
the  town  of  Enterprise.  This  was  really  a  capital  ruse 
on  the  part  of  Captain  Forbes. 

Grierson's  command  being  once  more  together,  he 
moved  to  Hazlehurst,  and  thence  to  Gallatin,  and  en 
camped.  A  thirty-two  pounder  rifled  Parrott  gun,  with 
one  thousand  four  hundred  pounds  of  powder,  was  here 
captured,  en  route  to  Grand  Gulf.  The  distance  traveled 
this  day  was  thirty-seven  miles. 

The  command  left  camp  at  seven  o'clock  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  28th,  Captain  Trafton's  battalion,  which  had 
been  sent  out  the  day  before  to  proceed  to  Bahalia  and 
destroy  the  railroad  and  transportation,  having  returned 
at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  having  had  some  skir 
mishing,  and  captured  about  thirty  prisoners.  In  the  aft- 
ternoon,  the  6th  Illinois  had  a  skirmish  with  the  enemy 
near  Union  Church,  in  which  two  of  the  rebels  were 
wounded  and  several  captured. 


United  States  Cavalry.  297 

On  the  29th  the  men  were  in  the  saddle  by  sunrise, 
directing  their  course  toward  the  New  Orleans  and  Jack 
son  Kailroad.  At  Brookhaven  they  burned  the  depot, 
some  cars,  and  bridges ;  captured  and  paroled  two  hund 
red  and  one  prisoners.  They  encamped  six  miles  south 
west  of  the  town,  having  marched  twenty -five  miles. 

The  last  day  of  April  the  sun  found  our  men  again  on 
the  march,  and,  visiting  Bogue  Chitto,  burned  depot,  cars, 
and  bridges.  Left  that  place  at  ten  A.M.,  burning  all 
bridges  and  trestles  between  there  and  Summit,  where 
they  arrived  at  five  o'clock  P.M.,  and  again  burned  sev 
eral  cars  and  a  large  amount  of  rebel  government  prop 
erty.  They  went  into  camp  southwest  of  Summit,  hav 
ing  marched  over  twenty-eight  miles. 

May  1st  Grierson's  men  left  camp  by  daylight,  and  pro 
ceeded  in  a  southwesterly  direction  without  regard  to 
roads,  until  they  came  into  the  Clinton  and  Osyka  Eoad, 
near  a  bridge  four  miles  northeast  of  Wall's  Post-office. 
About  eighty  rebels  were  lying  in  ambush  near  the 
bridge,  and  as  the  brave  Lieutenant  Colonel  Blackburn, 
of  the  7th  Illinois,  was  crossing  at  the  head  of  his  men, 
he  was  shot  in  two  places,  and  expired  in  a  short  time 
afterward.  Thus  fell  a  brave  and  daring  soldier.  The 
men  near  the  colonel,  stung  by  this  deed,  rushed  upon 
the  rebels,  and  all  who  were  not  killed  were  speedily 
seeking  safety  in  flight.  They  crossed  the  Amite  Eiver 
without  opposition — the  picket  being  asleep — about  ten 
o'clock  P.M.,  and  continued  to  travel  nearly  all  night. 
They  had  marched  nearly  forty  miles  this  day. 

The  last  day  of  this  raid,  May  2d,  the  men  started  early, 
and  surprised  and  burned  a  rebel  camp  at  Sandy  Creek 

N2 


298  History  of  the 

Bridge.  About  nine  o'clock  A.M.,  as  a  crowning  glory 
to  this  most  extraordinary  series  of  adventures,  they  cap 
tured  Colonel  Stewart  and  forty-two  of  his  regiment  of 
Mississippi  Cavalry  on  Comite  Eiver. 

About  noon  on  the  2d  the  command  reached  Baton 
Eouge,  Louisiana,  where  their  arrival  sent  a  thrill  of  joy 
through  every  loyal  heart  which  it  is  impossible  to  de 
scribe.  During  the  last  thirty  hours  the  command  had 
scarcely  slept  at  all,  except  what  they  could  do  on  their 
horses,  and  both  men  and  animals  were  fatigued  out. 

This  was  a  noble  raid,  and  is  without  an  equal  in  the 
annals  of  the  cavalry  service.  The  damage  done  to  the 
enemy  has  been  estimated  at  $6,000,000. 

The  battle  of  Fayetteville,  Arkansas,  was  fought  on  the 
18th  of  April,  1863,  by  the  Union  troops,  under  Colonel 
M.  La  Eue  Harrison,  of  the  1st  Arkansas  Union  Cavalry, 
and  a  large  body  of  rebels,  under  command  of  General 
Cabell.  The  1st  Arkansas  Union  Cavalry  behaved  very 
well  during  the  fight,  which  lasted  six  hours,  when  the 
enemy  was  beaten  off  with  considerable  loss.  Captain 
Harrison  was  wounded,  and  his  conduct,  as  well  as  that 
of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Bishop  and  Majors  Fitch  and  Hunt, 
is  highly  spoken  of.  All  of  these  officers  belonged  to  the 
1st  Arkansas  Union  Cavalry. 


United  States  Cavalry.  299 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Fight  at  Patterson,  Missouri. — Battle  at  Cape  Girardeau. — Rebels  cap 
tured  near  Franklin,  Tennessee. — Fight  at  Spottsylvania  Court-house. 
—Lieutenant  Colonel  Me  Vicar  killed.— Fight  near  Warrenton,  Vir 
ginia. — Stoneman's  Raid. — Kilpatrick's  Operations. — Davis's  Opera 
tions. — Cavalry  Skirmishes. — Cornyn's  Raid. — Promotions. — Cavalry 
Bureau. — Cavalry  Battle  at  Beverly's  Ford. 

A  BRISK  fight  occurred  near  Patterson,  Missouri,  on 
the  20th  of  April,  between  the  10th  Missouri  State  Mili 
tia  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  Smart,  and  the  rebels.  In  his 
dispatch  Colonel  Smart  says :  "  The  attack  began  about 
twelve  o'clock  on  the  Eeeves  Station  Road  with  a  scout 
I  had  sent  out  in  that  direction.  I  then  sent  Major 
"Wood  on  to  re-enforce  with  a  battalion.  He  held  them 
in  check,  and  skirmished  them  into  town.  This  gave  me 
time  to  load  my  trains  and  have  them  ready  to  move  if 
I  had  to  retreat.  Before  I  left  town  I  destroyed  what 
stores  I  could  not  bring  away.  The  fight  continued  to 
Big  Creek,  eight  miles  this  side  of  Patterson.  The  en 
gagement  was  severe  in  the  extreme.  After  fighting 
hand  to  hand  at  Big  Creek,  they  got  in  my  front,  and  at 
tempted  to  cut  off  my  retreat,  but  I  forced  my  way  to  the 
north  side  of  the  creek.  The  enemy  did  not  renew  the 
engagement.  My  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing  in 
the  action  was  about  fifty."  Major  McConnell,  of  the 
Union  troops,  was  wounded.  The  rebels  were  command 
ed  by  General  Marmaduke,  who  was  acting  in  concert 


300  History  of  the 

with  General  Cabell,  who  attacked  Fayetteville,  Arkan 
sas,  as  before  mentioned. 

General  Marmaduke,  with  his  forces,  fell  back,  and,  on 
the  26th  of  April,  attacked  the  post  of  Cape  Girardeau, 
Missouri,  on  the  Mississippi  Kiver.  The  garrison  con 
sisted  of  the  1st  Nebraska  regiment,  under  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Baumer,  then  serving  as  infantry,  and  the  1st 
Wisconsin  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  La  Grange,  with  some 
artillery.  After  a  fierce  fight  of  some  hours,  Marmaduke 
withdrew  his  forces,  and  fled  toward  Arkansas.  In  the 
defense  of  the  town,  Colonel  Dan.  Huston,  Jr.,  of  the  7th 
Missouri  Cavalry,  rendered  valuable  assistance. 

Brigadier  General  McNeill  had  command  of  the  Union 
forces,  and  started  in  pursuit,  being  joined  by  the  troops 
under  Brigadier  General  Yendever,  consisting  of  the  1st 
Iowa  Cavalry,  3d  Missouri  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  Glover, 
a  portion  of  the  2d  Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  and 
some  artillery.  Several  skirmishes  occurred  on  the  line 
of  the  retreat,  in  which  Lieutenant  Colonel  Carrick  and 
Captain  Mitchell,  of  the  3d  Missouri  Cavalry,  were  wound 
ed.  The  1st  Iowa  Cavalry  surprised  the  advance  regi 
ment  of  the  rebel  forces  on  the  28th  of  April,  and  two 
small  howitzers,  loaded  with  musket -balls,  were  dis 
charged  simultaneously  within  thirty  yards  of  them,  kill 
ing  and  wounding  a  large  number.  At  the  same  time 
the  First  Iowa  Cavalry  charged  upon  them,  and  not  a 
man  of  the  entire  regiment  escaped,  all  who  were  not 
killed  or  wounded  being  taken  prisoners. 

Major  General  Samuel  E.  Curtis  was  at  this  time  in 
command  of  the  department  of  the  Missouri,  and  his  dis 
position  of  the  cavalry  of  his  command  was  most  admi- 


United  States  Cavalry.  301 

rable.  The  writer  of  these  pages  was  then  serving  on  his 
staff  as  chief  of  cavalry,  and  had  a  good  opportunity  of 
judging.  His  cavalry  was  successful  in  almost  every  in 
stance. 

While  these  things  were  going  on  in  Missouri,  Colonel 
Louis  D.  Watkins,  of  the  6th  Kentucky  Cavalry,  in  com 
mand  of  a  party  of  national  cavalry,  left  Murfreesbor- 
ough  on  the  night  of  the  26th  of  April,  and  next  morn 
ing  at  daybreak  succeeded  in  capturing  the  Texan  Legion 
of  rebel  troops,  posted  at  a  point  eight  miles  from  Frank 
lin,  Tennessee,  between  the  Columbia  and  Carter's  Creek 
Turnpikes.  Several  rebels  were  killed  and  wounded. 
•  A  detachment  of  the  5th  New  York  Cavalry,  com 
manded  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  McVicar,  numbering  one 
hundred  and  ten  men,  while  reconnoitring  in  the  vicinity 
of  Spottsylvania  Court-house,  Virginia,  on  the  30th  of 
April,  were  surrounded  by  four  regiments  of  rebel  cav 
alry,  under  General  Fitzhugh  Lee,  and  fifty-two  of  their 
number  killed,  wounded,  and  captured.  The  rest,  num 
bering  fifty-eight,  cut  their  way  out.  Lieutenant  Colonel 
McVicar  was  killed  at  the  first  rebel  onset. 

A  skirmish  took  place  near  La  Grange,  Arkansas,  on 
the  1st  of  May,  between  a  detachment  of  the  3d  Iowa 
Cavalry,  under  Captain  J.  Q.  A.  De  Huff,  and  an  over 
whelming  rebel  force,  which  resulted  in  a  retreat  of  the 
Union  men,  with  a  loss  of  forty-one  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing. 

About  three  hundred  rebels  made  an  attack  uponWar- 
renton  Junction,  Virginia,  on  the  3d  of  May,  between 
eight  and  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning.  They  dashed 
upon  some  eighty  men  of  the  1st  Virginia  Union  Cav- 


302  History  of  the 

airy,  who  were  dismounted,  feeding  their  horses.  These 
men,  finding  the}?-  could  not  have  time  to  mount,  prepared 
to  fight  on  foot.  As  the  rebels  came  up  they  gave  them 
a  volley,  which  emptied  a  number  of  saddles  and  check 
ed  the  onset.  A  desperate  fight  now  occurred,  and  for  a 
short  time  the  national  troops  succeeded  in  keeping  them 
at  bay.  But  numbers  told,  and  the  rebels  captured  about 
half  the  force,  the  others,  fighting  gallantly.  Meanwhile 
a  battalion  of  the  5th  New  York  Cavalry,  led  by  Major 
Hammond,  had  come  up,  and  they  gallantly  charged  the 
rebels  with  the  sabre,  completely  routing  them,  and  re 
capturing  all  our  men.  Major  Hammond  pursued  them 
beyond  Warrenton.  The  rebels  fought  desperately. 
Their  loss  was  heavy,  their  dead  being  left  on  the  field 
and  scattered  along  the  roadside.  The  Union  loss  was 
seventeen  killed  and  wounded.  Among  the  latter  were, 
Major  Steele,  1st  Virginia  Union  Cavalry,  mortally ;  Cap 
tain  "William  A.  McCoy,  1st  Virginia,  slightly ;  Captain 
Krom,  5th  New  York ;  and  Lieutenants  Frank  Munson 
and  Samuel  McBride,  5th  New  York.  Our  officers  and 
men  behaved  with  great  gallantry,  particularly  Major 
Hammond,  Captains  Krom,  Penfield,  and  McMasters,  of 
the  5th  New  York,  Captain  Harris,  1st  Virginia,  and  Cap 
tain  Bean,  of  the  1st  Vermont  Cavalry. 

STONEMAN'S  RAID. 

On  the  29th  of  April,  1863,  Major  General  Stoneman 
started  on  his  celebrated  raid,  having  under  his  command 
the  greater  portion  of  the  cavalry  belonging  to  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  The  object  of  the  expedition  was  to 
break  up  railroad  communication  in  rear  of  Lee's  army, 


United  States  Cavalry.  305 

and  to  prevent  supplies  reaching  him  from  Kichrnond 
and  farther  south.  He  entered  the  enemy's  lines  by 
way  of  Kelly's  Ford ;  one  division,  however,  under  Gen 
eral  Averill,  forded  the  river  near  the  Orange  and  Alex 
andria  Eailroad,  and,  soon  after  crossing,  encountered  a 
small  body  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  and  a  fight,  in  which 
artillery  was  employed  for  a  short  time,  ensued,  the  ene 
my  retiring  after  a  brief  contest,  the  loss  on  either  side 
being  trifling.  Averill  was  ordered  to  proceed  along  the 
road  toward  Culpepper  and  Gordonsville,  and,  by  a  dash 
ing  flank  movement,  to  keep  the  enemy's  troops  known 
to  be  located  in  that  vicinity  employed,  while  detach 
ments  from  the  main  column  were  engaged  in  the  most 
important  duty  of  cutting  off  the  rebel  Army  of  the  Eap- 
pahannock  from  its  base  of  operations.  Unfortunately, 
General  Averill's  command  did  not  protect  the  right  of 
the  main  body,  and,  as  a  consequence,  the  operations  at 
different  points  were  somewhat  interfered  with. 

General  John  Buford  went  to  the  left,  after  crossing 
Kelly's  Ford,  and  had  a  skirmish  with  the  enemy,  who 
were  repulsed.  Our  cavalry  chopped  down  some  trees 
and  obstructed  the  way,  so  that  when  they  again  charged 
they  were  halted,  and  a  volley  from  our  troops  sent  them 
reeling  back,  and  they  gave  us  no  more  trouble. 

General  Stoneman,  with  the  greater  portion  of  the  com 
mand,  remained  near  Kelly's  Ford  until  nightfall,  when 
the  order  of  march  was  given,  and  all  hands  crossed  Flesh- 
» man's  Eiver,  a  small  stream,  now  much  swollen  by  rains, 
and  bivouacked  a  short  distance  beyond.  Here,  in  an 
open,  plowed  field,  the  troops  slept  soundly,  without  oth 
er  protection  from  a  cold,  driving  rain-storm,  that  pre- 


306  History  of  the 

vailed  all  night,  than  that  afforded  by  their  blankets  and 
rubber  cloths.  The  night  was  dreary  in  the  extreme. 
All  bugle  calls  were  dispensed  with,  and  orders  were 
given  in  a  low  voice  from  one  officer  to  another,  in  order 
not  to  betray  to  the  enemy,  who  were  close  about,  the 
strength  of  the  forces.  The  rebel  scouts  attacked  our 
pickets  during  the  night  and  early  in  the  morning,  but 
nothing  happened  worthy  of  any  particular  mention, 

On  the  morning  of  the  30th  of  April,  the  command, 
which  had  been  picked  over  before,  was  again  culled,  and 
all  doubtful  horses  and  sick  and  weak-kneed  men  were 
sent  back  across  the  river.  The  command  was  in  light 
marching  order,  and  was  now  within  the  enemy's  lines, 
where  the  greatest  caution  was  necessary.  After  pro 
ceeding  through  the  woods  in  parallel  lines  a  few  miles, 
the  command  was  halted,  and  the  whole  country  patrolled 
for  an  enemy.  The  advance  of  General  Buford's  column 
arrived  near  Minot's  Ford,  on  the  Eapidan,  at  one  o'clock 
P.M.,  when  a  squadron  of  the  5th  Cavalry  was  sent  across, 
and  falling  in  with  a  considerable  body  of  the  enemy  put 
them  to  flight  in  great  haste.  At  night  the  whole  force 
encamped  on  a  hill  commanding  Eaccoon  Ford,  with  or 
ders  to  be  in  the  saddle  by  two  o'clock  next  morning. 

Friday,  May  1st,  the  men  were  "  to  horse"  at  the  hour 
indicated,  after  having  spent  another  cold  and  disagreea 
ble  night,  but  did  not  start  until  daylight,  as  a  guide  was 
needed.  At  last  Major  Falls  came  dashing  along,  with  a 
"  reliable  contraband"  on  the  saddle  behind  him,  creating 
no  small  amusement  to  the  soldiery,  and,  with  this  black 
guide  in  advance,  the  column  started.  At  Orange  Springs 
our  people  came  upon  a  party  of  secession  cavalry,  who 


United  States  Cavalry.  307 

sought  safety  in  flight ;  but  one  lieutenant,  named  Mount, 
was  overhauled  and  captured,  and  the  rebels  were  forced 
to  throw  away  several  wagon-loads  of  provisions,  and 
abandon  some  horses  and  accoutrements.  A  few  strag 
glers  were  picked  up,  including  a  rebel  engineer,  who  was 
taken,  with  all  his  instruments.  Colonel  Wyndham  was 
sent  in  pursuit  of  a  party  of  rebels  in  the  direction  of 
Madison,  but  they,  having  great  respect  for  personal  lib 
erty,  put  themselves  beyond  the  reach  of  harm.  Peach 
brandy  was  found  in  several  of  the  farm-houses  along  the 
course  pursued  by  Stoneman's  men,  and  some  of  them, 
getting  too  much,  straggled  away.  Far  in  the  night  the 
command  continued  to  march,  the  only  sounds  which 
broke  the  stillness  of  the  scene  being  the  crunching  of  the 
horses'  hoofs  along  the  road,  the  jingling  of  the  cavalry 
accoutrements,  and  the  baying  of  the  watch-dogs,  as  the 
column  moved  steadily  along.  About  three  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  May  2d  a  halt  was  made  at  Greenwood, 
one  mile  west  of  Louisa  Court-house.  At  this  point  the 
Central  Virginia  Eailroad  was  reached,  and  parties  were 
sent  up  and  down  the  track  for  miles,  to  destroy  it,  burn 
the  bridges  and  culverts,  and  to  guard  against  a  surprise 
of  the  main  body.  The  work  was  thoroughly  done,  and 
just  at  daylight  Colonel  Kilpatrick,  with  his  regiment, 
dashed  into  Louisa  Court-house.  His  coming  was  unex 
pected,  and  was  a  complete  surprise.  Several  rebel  sol 
diers  were  captured,  and  the  people  of  that  place  arose  in 
the  morning  to  find  themselves  in  the  power  of  the  hated 
Yankees.  They  had  fully  expected  to  be  murdered  by 
our  troops,  and  were  much  relieved  when  they  found  that 
their  lives  would  be  spared,  and  no  property  interfered 


308  History  of  the 

with,  except  such  as  was  actually  necessary  for  the  wants 
of  our  troops.  After  this  assurance  the  people  became 
more  easy,  and  conversed  freely  with  our  officers  and  men. 

While  halting  at  Louisa,  a  squadron  of  the  1st  Maine 
regiment,  on  picket,  was  attacked  and  driven  in  by  a 
greatly  superior  force,  with  a  loss  of  two  killed.  The  1st 
Maine  and  2d  New  York  regiments  were  sent  out  to  their 
support,  when  the  rebel  troops  fled  in  all  directions.  The 
bridges  over  Greenwood  and  Hickory  Creeks  having 
been  destroyed,  and  our  troops  well  supplied  with  rations 
and  forage,  the  command  was  moved  about  four  o'clock 
on  the  afternoon  of  May  2d  to  a  hill  to  the  east  of  the 
town,  and  there  awaited  the  attack  of  the  rebel  troops, 
who  were  known  to  be  approaching  from  Gordonsville. 
However,  when  they  came  in  sight  of  the  two  regiments 
of  cavalry  which  had  been  left  on  the  road  to  receive 
them,  they  thought  better  of  it,  and  commenced  a  retro 
grade  movement.  At  five  o'clock  the  command  started, 
and  reached  Thompson's  Four  Corners  about  half  past 
eleven  o'clock  P.M.  At  midnight  Stoneman  called  his 
principal  officers  about  him,  and  explained  what  he  ex 
pected  them  to  do ;  and  at  half  past  two  o'clock  on  Sun 
day  morning,  May  23d,  the  different  expeditions  started 
out  to  cut  the  enemy's  lines  of  communication. 

It  was  a  bright  moonlight  night,  the  roads  were  com 
paratively  good,  and  every  thing  seemed  to  work  in  har 
mony.  Brigadier  General  Gregg,  with  his  command,  was 
sent  in  one  direction ;  Colonel  Wyndham,  with  the  1st 
Maine  and  1st  New  Jersey  regiments,  in  another ;  Col 
onel  Kilpatrick,  with  his  New  York  regiment,  in  another ; 
and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Ilasbroucl^  Davis,  with  the  12th 


United  States  Cavalry.  309 

Illinois  regiment,  in  another.  Colonel  Wyndham  took  a 
southerly  direction,  and  reached  Columbia,  on  the  James 
Eiver,  about  eight  o'clock  A.M.  The  approach  of  his 
force  had  been  heralded,  but  no  one  believed  it,  until  Ma 
jor  Beaumont,  with  the  advance,  came  dashing  into  tqwn. 
Several  canal  boats  and  bridges  were  burned,  and  a  large 
quantity  of  rebel  commissary,  quartermaster,  and  medical 
stores  burned  or  thrown  into  the  canal.  Our  people 
vainly  attempted  to  destroy  the  massive  stone  aqueduct 
which  crosses  James  Eiver.  After  doing  all  the  damage 
he  could,  Colonel  Wyndham  returned  to  the  main  body 
under  Stoneman. 

Colonel  Kilpatrick  destroyed  the  depot  at  Hungary, 
broke  the  telegraph  wires,  and  tore  up  the  Fredericks- 
burg  Eailroad  for  several  miles,  and,  charging  a  body  of 
rebel  troops,  followed  them  within  two  miles  of  the  city  of 
Richmond,  and  captured  Lieutenant  Brown  and  eleven  men 
inside  the  fortifications  which  surround  that  place  !  His 
men  destroyed  several  pieces  of  railroad,  burned  three 
wagon  trains,  destroyed  several  cars,  and  captured  quite  a 
number  of  prisoners.  Lieutenant  Estis  and  eleven 'men 
of  Kilpatrick's  regiment  were  captured  by  the  rebels,  but 
were  recaptured  by  company  F,  of  the  6th  New  York 
Cavalry.  He  passed  entirely  around  Lee's  army,  and 
reached  Gloucester  Point,  where  the  stars  and  stripes 
were  waving. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Davis  struck  the  Fredericksburg 
Eailroad  at  Ashland,  where  the  telegraph  wire  was  cut, 
and  the  trestle-work  south  of  the  town  was  consumed  by 
fire.  A  railroad  train  was  taken,  full  of  sick  and  wound 
ed  soldiers,  and  these,  with  the  train-guard,  were  paroled, 


310  History  of  the 

After  this  his  force  moved  across  to  the  Central  Kailroad, 
which  he  reached  about  eight  o'clock  P;M.  Here  an 
other  long  trestle-work,  a  train  of  cars,  and  the  depot  were 
burned,  the  telegraph  wire  cut,  and  the  road  torn  up. 
About  thirty  officers  and  men  at  the  depot  were  paroled. 
After  doing  this  he  marched  to  within  seven  miles  of 
Eichmond,  and  bivouacked  until  eight  o'clock  the  next 
morning,  when  he  marched  to  "VYilliamsburg.  At  Tun- 
stall's  Station  his  advance  was  opposed  by  a  body  of 
rebel  infantry  and  artillery.  He  charged  upon  them,  but 
could  not  break  them,  as  they  were  protected  by  rifle- 
pits,  and  he  was  obliged  to  turn  off,  after  having  lost  two 
men  killed  and  several  wounded,  among  whom  was  Lieu 
tenant  Marsh,  who  received  a  severe  wound  in  his  right 
arm.  He  brought  the  remainder  off,  and  reached  Glou 
cester  Point  in  safety. 

Sunday,  and  nearly  all  day  Monday,  General  Buford's 
command  was  stationed  at  Shannon  Hill,  and  a  detach 
ment  was  sent  out  to  destroy  the  canal  and  bridge  near 
Cedar  Point,  which  work  was  most  successfully  accom 
plished.  Sunday  night,  May  3d,  it  is  believed  that  both 
Wade  Hampton  and  Fitzhugh  Lee's  brigades  of  rebels 
were  encamped  within  two  miles  of  General  Buford. 

On  the  morning  of  the  4th,  a  picket,  consisting  of  sixty 
men,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Stoddard,  of  the  5th 
Cavalry,  was  attacked,  and  fifteen  of  our  men  were  cap 
tured. 

On  Friday  morning,  May  8th,  the  whole  of  Stoneman's 
force  reached  Kelly's  Ford  in  safety,  Kilpatrick  and  Da 
vis  having  passed  out  by  Gloucester  Point,  as  before  men 
tioned. 


United  States  Cavalry.  311 

The  amount  of  damage  done  to  the  rebels  by  Stone- 
man  can  scarcely  be  estimated.  For  nine  days  he  and 
his  horsemen  roamed  at  will  between  Lee's  army  on  the 
Eappahannock  and  the  rebel  capital,  and  disabled  every 
line  of  communication.  This  was  done  with  a  loss  to 
our  side  of  not  over  one  hundred  men.  On  the  other 
hand,  our  people  captured  and  paroled  over  five  hundred 
rebel  officers  and  soldiers.  During  the  expedition  he  de 
stroyed  twenty-two  bridges,  seven  culverts,  five  ferries, 
three  trains  of  railroad  cars,  and  one  hundred  and  twen 
ty-two  wagons ;  burned  four  supply  trains,  five  canal- 
boats,  two  store-houses,  four  telegraph  stations,  and  three 
depots;  broke  canals  in  three  places,  and  railroads  in 
seven ;  captured  three  hundred  and  fifty-six  horses  and 
one  hundred  and  four  mules,  and  cut  the  telegraph  wire 
in  five  places.  This  was  a  fair  offset  for  the  raid  of  Stu 
art  in  Pennsylvania,  and  taught  both  the  secessionists  and 
our  people  at  home  to  respect  our  cavalry. 

The  2d  Indiana^  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  Edward  M. 
McCook,  made  a  scout  near  Stone  Elver,  Tennessee,  on 
the  9th  of  May,  visiting  the  hiding-places  of  several  guer 
rilla  bands,  and  capturing  eight  of  them,  who  were  prop 
erly  dealt  with. 

Two  days  afterward  a  fight  took  place  in  the  vicinity 
of  Greasy  Creek,  Kentucky,  between  a  force  of  national 
troops,  under  command  of  Colonel  Eichard  T.  Jacob,  of 
the  9th  Kentucky  Cavalry,  and  a  greatly  superior  force 
of  rebel  cavalry,  commanded  by  John  Morgan.  After  a 
desperate  fight  of  several  hours'  duration,  Colonel  Jacob 
and  his  men  were  obliged  to  retire,  after  having  killed 


312  History  of  the 

and  wounded  nearly  a  hundred  of  them,  with  a  loss  to 
himself  of  twenty-five  killed  and  wounded. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Breckinridge,  with  a  detachment 
of  the  1st  Tennessee  Union  Cavalry,  numbering  fifty- 
five  men,  were  taken  across  the  Tennessee  Eiver  on  the 
United  States  gunboats,  and,  after  -being  landed,  they 
dashed  across  the  country  to  Linden,  Tennessee,  where 
he  surprised  a  rebel  force  of  more  than  twice  his  number, 
capturing  Lieutenant  Colonel  Frierson,  one  captain,  one 
surgeon,  four  lieutenants,  thirty  rebel  soldiers,  ten  con 
scripts,  and  fifty  horses.  The  court-house,  which  had 
been  used  as  a  rebel  depot,  was  burned.  This  occurred 
on  the  12th  of  May. 

On  the  15th  of  Majr,  a  company  of  Union  cavalry  was 
surprised  and  captured  at  Charlestown,  Jefferson  County, 
Virginia.  Upon  learning  this,  General  Milroy  sent  out 
a  strong  detachment  of  Virginia  Union  and  Pennsylvania 
cavalry,  under  Captain  Vitt.  On  the  afternoon  of  the 
16th  they  were  recaptured  at  Piedmont  Station,  in  Fau- 
quier  County ;  at  the  same  time  two  rebels  were  killed, 
and  forty  rebel  soldiers,  with  their  horses,  captured.  Cap 
tain  Vitt,  the  leader  of  the  Union  Cavalry,  was  killed, 
and  Major  Adams,  with  a  detachment  of  the  1st  New 
York  Cavalry,  continued  the  pursuit  of  some,  rebels  who 
had  escaped,  but  did  not  succeed  in  overtaking  them. 

Major  Lippert,  commanding  a  portion  of  the  13th  Illi 
nois  Cavalry,  had  a  desperate  fight  with  a  numerically 
superior  body  of  rebels  in  the  vicinity  of  Doniphan,  Mis 
souri,  on  the  28th  of  May,  in  which  the  Union  troops 
were  forced  to  retreat,  but  not  until  they  had  lost  eighty 
men  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  The  brave  Major 
Lippert  was  mortally  wounded. 


United  States  Cavalry.  313 

Colonel  Powell  Clayton,  of  the  5th  Kansas  Cavalry, 
in  command  of  the  1st  Indiana,  5th  Illinois,  and  5th 
Kansas  Cavalry  regiments,  left  Helena,  Arkansas,  on  the 
6th  of  May,  1863,  on  a  scout  against  the  enemy.  He 
marched  to  Clarendon,  and  then  moved  toward  Mount 
Vernon.  When  near  that  place,  they  charged  upon  a 
body  of  rebel  cavalry,  and  at  first  forced  them  back; 
but  they  rallied,  and  in  turn  forced  our  troops  to  seek 
refuge  in  the  timber  behind  some  fallen  trees.  The  reb 
els  being  re-enforced,  they  came  down  upon  our  troops 
in  column  at  a  full  gallop ;  but,  the  fire  becoming  too 
hot,  they  fell  back,  reformed,  and  came  on  again,  and 
again  were  driven  back.  A  third  time  they  attempted 
it,  but  their  troops  would  not  come  up.  Failing  in  their 
efforts  to  dislodge  our  troops,  they  .sent  for  some  artillery, 
and  in  a  short  time  compelled  our  men  to  retreat,  which 
they  did  in  good  order.  Our  loss  was  fifteen  killed  and 
wounded,  while  that  of  the  rebels  was  somewhat  greater. 
Captain  McKee,  of  a  Texas  regiment,  was  taken  prisoner. 

On  the  night  of  the  21st  of  May,  General  Stanley,  with 
two  brigades  of  cavalry,  attempted  to  surprise  the  ene 
my's  camp  near  Middleton,  Tennessee.  The  attack  was 
unsuccessful,  and  our  forces  returned,  having  lost  several 
men.  Second  Lieutenant  Francis  C.  Wood,  of  the  4th 
United  States  Cavalry,  was  mortally  wounded,  and  died 
on  the  23d  of  May. 

Colonel  Edward  J.  Davis,  of  the  1st  regiment  of  Texas 
Union  Cavalry,  left  Levieck's  Ferry,  on  the  Amite  Eiver, 
Louisiana,  May  12th,  on  an  expedition  along  the  Jackson 
Railroad.  They  struck  the  railroad  at  Hammond  Sta 
tion,  where  they  cut  the  telegraph  and  burned  the  bridge. 

0 


314  History  of  the 

At  Pontchatoula  he  encountered  a  party  of  rebel  guer 
rillas  and  Choctaw  Indians,  whom,  after  a  brief  skirmish, 
he  dispersed,  taking  seventeen  Choctaws  prisoners.  He 
afterward  destroyed  the  rebel  camp.  On  the  loth  of 
May,  in  the  vicinity  of  Camp  Moore,  Louisiana,  he  fought 
a  body  of  rebels,  defeated  them,  and  routed  them  with 
great  slaughter.  After  the  fight,  Colonel  Davis  advanced 
on  Camp  Moore,  which  he  burned,  together  with  the  rail 
road  depot  and  bridge,  and  a  great  quantity  of  property. 

Colonel  Florence  M.  Cornyn,  of  the  10th  Missouri  Cav 
alry  Volunteers,  returned  to  Corinth,  Alabama,  on  the 
31st  of  May,  from  a  successful  raid  into  Alabama.  He, 
with  his  command,  was  absent  five  days,  during  which 
time  he  had  a  fight  with  Colonel  Eoddy's  cavalry,  of  the 
rebel  army,  and  defeated  them  with  considerable  loss. 
His  men  destroyed  seven  cotton -factories,  with  all  their 
contents,  valued  at  one  million  five  hundred  thousand 
dollars;  a  number  of  steam  flour-mills,  saw-mills,  and 
blacksmiths'  shops ;  a  quantity  of  arms,  with  some  am 
munition  ;  burned  the  bridge  at  Florence,  Alabama,  and 
returned  with  six  hundred  head  of  horses,  mules,  and 
oxen,  and  one  hundred  prisoners. 

Previous  to  this  Colonel  Cornyn  had  made  two  expe 
ditions  into  the  enemy's  country,  and  had  inflicted  great 
damage.  The  first  of  these  was  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Tuscumbia,  in  February,  and  the  next,  in  the  early  part 
of  May,  toward  Tupelo,  Mississippi.  On  the  6th  of  the 
month,  while  encamped  near  Tupelo,  his  force  was  at 
tacked  by  a  body  of  rebels,  commanded  by  General  Eug- 
gles,  and,  after  a  fight  of  half  an  hour's  duration,  Rug- 
gles  retreated,  leaving  behind  him  a  great  many  small- 


United  States  Cavalry.  315 

arms,  and  ninety  of  his  men  as  prisoners.  Cornyn's  loss 
was  severe. 

In  the  mean  time  several  changes  had  taken  place 
among  the  field-officers  of  the  regular  cavalry  regiments. 
The  bill  retiring  officers  from  active  service  who  had 
served  faithfully  for  forty  years,  or  who  had  become  un 
fit  for  service  from  incapacity  resulting  from  long  and 
faithful  service,  from  wounds  or  injury  received,  from 
disease  contracted,  or  from  exposure  in  the  line  of  duty, 
had  passed  Congress  and  become  a  law,  and  under  its 
provisions  several  officers  had  retired.  Colonels  Benja 
min  L.  Beall,  of  the  1st  Cavalry,  and  John  S.  Simonson, 
of  the  3d ;  Majors  Llewellyn  Jones,  of  the  1st,  and  Wash 
ington  I.  Newton  and  John  W.  T.  Gardiner,  of  the  2d 
Cavalry,  went  upon  the  retired  list.  Several  field-offi 
cers,  as  already  mentioned,  had  resigned  and  joined  the 
cause  of  the  rebels,  and  our  service  now  contained  but 
few  men  who  were  not  true  to  the  Union.  Captain  Kob- 
ert  M.  Morris,  of  the  3d  Cavalry,  was  promoted  major  in 
the  6th  Cavalry,  March  llth,  1863,  in  place  of  Lawrence 
A.  Williams,  dismissed ;  and  Captain  Samuel  H.  Starr, 
of  the  2d  Cavalry,  was  promoted  major  in  the  6th  Caval 
ry,  April  25th,  1863,  in  place  of  Edward  H.  Wright,  re 
signed.  Colonel  P.  St.  George  Cooke,  of  the  2d  Cavalry, 
was  promoted  brigadier  general  on  the  12th  of  Novem 
ber,  1861 ;  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Delos  B.  Sacket,  of  the 
5th  Cavalry,  was  promoted  inspector  general,  October  1st, 
1861. 

During  the  rebellion  there  had  been  many  changes  in 
the  organization  of  cavalry  regiments ;  and  to  such  an  ex 
tent  had  it  been  carried  by  the  various  Acts  of  Congress, 


316 


History  of  the 


that  it  was  to  the  officers  themselves  a  matter  of  impos 
sibility  to  say  what  really  was  the  legal  organization  of 
a  horse  regiment.  Finally,  however,  General  Order  No. 
110,  from  the  War  Department,  Adjutant  General's  Office, 
dated  Washington,  April  29,  1863,  was  published,  and 
definitely  settled  the  matter.  It  was  as  follows : 

Regiment  of  Cavalry — Twelve  Companies  or  Troops. 


1  Colonel. 

1  Lieutenant  Colonel. 

3  Majors. 

1  Surgeon. 

2  Assistant  Surgeons. 

1  Kegimental  Adjutant  (an 
extra  Lieutenant). 

1  Regimental  Quartermaster 
(an  extra  Lieutenant). 


1  Regimental  Commissary 
(an  extra  Lieutenant). 
1  Chaplain. 
1  Veterinary  Surgeon. 
1  Sergeant  Major. 
1  Quartermaster  Sergeant. 

1  Commissary  Sergeant. 

2  Hospital  Stewards. 
1  Saddler  Sergeant. 


1  Chief  Trumpeter. 
A  Company  or  Troop  of  Cavalry. 


1  Captain. 

1  First  Lieutenant. 

1  Second  Lieutenant. 

1  First  Sergeant. 

1  Quartermaster  Sergeant. 

1  Commissary  Sergeant. 


5  Sergeants. 

8  Corporals. 

2  Trumpeters. 

2  Farriers  or  Blacksmiths. 

1  Saddler. 

1  Wagoner. 


And 


60  Privates — Minimum. 
78  Privates — Maximum. 


United  States  Caved nj.  317 

CAVALRY  BUREAU. 

On  the  28th  of  July,  1863,  the  Cavalry  Bureau  of  the 
War  Department  was  established.  I  can  give  no  better 
idea  of  its  purposes  than  by  presenting  General  Orders 
ISTos.  236  and  237,  from  the  War  Department,  Adjutant 
General's  Office,  dated  as  above.  General  Order  No.  236 
says :  "  A  bureau  will  be  attached  to  the  War  Depart 
ment,  to  be  designated  the  Cavalry  Bureau.  This  bu 
reau  will  have  charge  of  the  organization  and  equipment 
of  the  cavalry  forces  of  the  army,  and  of  the  provision 
for  the  mounts  and  remounts  of  the  same. 

"  The  purchases  of  all  horses  for  the  cavalry  service 
will  be  made  by  officers  of  the  Quartermaster's  Depart 
ment,  under  the  direction  of  the  Chief  of  the  Cavalry  Bu 
reau.  Inspections  of  horses  offered  for  the  cavalry  serv 
ice  will  be  made  by  cavalry  officers. 

"  Depots  will  be  established  for  the  reception,  organiza 
tion,  and  discipline  of  cavalry  recruits  and  new  regiments, 
and  for  the  collection,  care,  and  training  of  cavalry  horses. 
The  depots  will  be  under  the  general  charge  of  the  Cav 
alry  Bureau. 

"  Copies  of  inspection  reports  of  cavalry  troops,  and 
such  returns  as  may  be  at  any  time -called  for,  will  be  sent 
to  the  bureau  established  by  this  order. 

"The  enormous  expense  attending  the  maintenance 
of  the  cavalry  arm,  points  to  the  necessity  of  greater  care 
and  more  judicious  management  on  the  part  of  cavalry 
officers,  that  their  horses  may  be  constantly  kept  up  to 
the  standard  of  efficiency  for  service.  Great  neglects  of 
duty  in  this  connection  are  to  be  attributed  to  officers  in 


318  History  of  the 

command  of  cavalry  troops.  It  is  the  design  of  the  War 
Department  to  correct  such  neglects  by  dismissing  from 
service  officers  whose  inefficiency  and  inattention  result 
in  the  deterioration  and  loss  of  the  public  animals  under 
their  charge." 

General  Order  No.  237  says:  "The  following  instruc 
tions,  intended  to  promote  the  efficiency  of  the  cavalry 
service,  are  promulgated  for  the  guidance  of  all  concerned. 
Inspections  will  be  made  of  all  cavalry  troops  at  the  end 
of  every  month,  reports  of  which  inspection  will  be  for 
warded  without  delay  through  the  army  or  department 
commander  to  the  head  of  the  Cavalry  Bureau  at  Wash 
ington.  These  reports  will  exhibit  the  condition  of  the 
cavalry  service  in  general,  and  especially  the  condition 
of  the  mounts.  The  reports  shall  state  what  service  the 
troops  inspected  have  done  since  last  inspected;  how 
many  miles  their  horses  have  traveled  within  the  month ; 
what  character  of  service  has  been  required  of  them,  and 
under  what  circumstances  it  has  been  rendered;  what 
appears  to  have  been  the  care  taken  of  them  as  regards 
treatment,  shoeing,  etc.,  etc.;  what  has  been  the  quantity 
and  character  of  the  rations  of  forage  issued  to  them ;  if 
there  have  been  any  deficiency  of  forage,  and  who  is  re 
sponsible  therefor,  etc.,  etc. ;  and  shall  convey  any  other 
information  pertaining  to  the  objects  of  the  inspection 
which  it  may  be  advisable  should  come  to  the  notice  of 
the  bureau. 

"Inspection  reports  shall  divide  cavalry  horses  into 
four  classes : 

"First,  those  which  are  to  be  condemned  as  unfit  for 
any  use  whatever  in  any  branch  of  the  service.  With 


United  States  Cavalry.  319 

regard  to  this  class  proceedings  are  to  be  had  as  required 
by  existing  regulations. 

"  Second,  those  now  unfit  for  cavalry  service,  and  not 
likely  to  be  efficient  again  for  such  service,  which  may  be 
used  for  team  or  draught  horses,  or  for  herding  purposes. 
Horses  of  this  class  are  to  be  turned  into  the  Quartermas 
ter's  Department. 

"  Third,  those  which  are  now  unfit  for  service,  or  near 
ly  so,  but  which,  by  timely  care  and  treatment  in  depots, 
will  regain  condition.  Such  horses  are  to  be  sent  to  such 
depots  as  may  be  established  for  the  army,  to  be  replaced 
by  an.  equal  number  of  good  animals  from  the  depots. 
As  soon  as  serviceable,  the  horses  turned  in  will  be  eligi 
ble  for  reissue. 

"  Fourth,  serviceable  horses. 

"  The  number  of  each  class  of  horses  will  be  given  in 
every  report  of  inspection  for  each  troop  in  the  service. 

"A  suitable  number  of  officers  of  the  Quartermaster's 
Department  will  be  directed  to  report  at  once  to  the  chief 
of  the  Cavalry  Bureau,  to  be  charged  with  disbursements 
for  the  objects  of  his  bureau  under  his  direction. 

"  Purchases  will  be  forthwith  made  of  a  sufficient  num 
ber  of  horses  to  meet  the  present  and  prospective  wants 
of  the  service  up  to  September,  1863,  and  the  horses 
placed  in  depots  for  issue  from  time  to  time. 

"  Kequisitions  for  remounts  will  be  made  through  the 
intermediate  commanders  on  the  chief  of  the  Cavalry 
Bureau,  who  will  give  orders  on  the  depots  for  the  horses 
needed  to  fill  them. 

"  Officers  of  the  Quartermaster's  Department  assigned 
to  duty  under  orders  of  the  chief  of  the  Cavalry  Bureau 


820  History  of  the 

will  make  their  reports  and  returns  of  money  and  prop 
erty,  as  required  by  existing  laws  and  regulations,  to  the 
accounting  officers  of  the  Treasury  and  to  the  Quarter 
master  General,  and  will  also  make  to  the  chief  of  the 
Cavalry  Burea,u  such  reports  and  returns  as  he  may  re 
quire  for  his  information. 

11  Estimates  for  funds  will  be  submitted  to  the  chief 
of  the  Cavalry  Bureau  for  his  approval  before  being  final 
ly  acted  upon  by  the  Quartermaster  Generaf." 

Under  the  foregoing  regulations  the  Cavalry  Bureau 
was  organized,  and  Major  General  George  Stoneman  (ma 
jor  in  the  4th  Regiment  United  States  Cavalry)  was  se 
lected  as  the  chief,  and  continued  to  act  as  such  for  some 
time.  It  is  fair  to  say  that  this  bureau  has  done  much 
good  to  the  service. 

GREAT  CAVALRY  BATTLE  AT  BEVERLY'S  FORD. 

The  great  cavalry  battle  at  Beverly's  Fo'rd,  Virginia, 
was  fought  on  the  9th  day  of  June,  1863,  and  here,  for 
the  first  time  on  the  American  continent,  occurred  a  real 
cavalry  action,  where  the  sides  were  nearly  equal,  and 
the  men  equally  determined.  The  Union  troops  were 
commanded  by  Brigadier  General  Pleasanton,  seconded 
by  Brigadier  Generals  Buford  and  Gregg.  It  is  doubt 
ful  whether  there  ever  was  a  cavalry  fight  to  excel  it  on 
earth.  The  United  States  horsemen  numbered  some 
thing  over  ten  thousand,  while  those  of  the  rebels  num 
bered  about  the  same.  Our  forces,  with  a  brigade  of  in 
fantry,  crossed  the  Rappahannock  between  Beverly's  Ford 
and  Culpepper,  and  attacked  Stuart's  rebel  cavalry,  un 
der  the  immediate  command  of  Generals  Fitzhugh  Lee 


United  States  Cavalry.  321 

and  Wade  Hampton,  about  five  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
After  getting  in  line,  our  people  pushed  the  rebels  back 
some  three  miles,  they  carrying  with  them  their  sixteen 
field-pieces,  and  disputing  every  inch  of  ground  as  our 
line  advanced.  The  battle  lasted  until  three  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon,  and  was  fought  almost  entirely  with  the 
sabre.  Among  the  Union  officers  killed  and  wounded 
were  the  following,  viz. : 

Killed. — Colonel  Benjamin  F.  Davis,  8th  regiment  New 
York  Cavalry,  and  captain  in  the  1st  regiment  United 
States  Cavalry;  Lieutenant  Colonel  Irvin,  10th  New 
York  Cavalry ;  Captain  Charles  W.  Canfield,  2d  United 
States  Cavalry ;  Lieutenant  Colonel  Broderick,  mortally 
wounded ;  Major  Stillwire,  1st  New  Jersey  Cavalry,  mor 
tally  wounded. 

Wounded. — Colonel  Wyndham,  1st  New  Jersey  Cav 
alry. 

Missing. — Major  Morris,  6th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry. 

The  United  States  loss  was  about  five  hundred  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing.  The  Confederate  loss  was  fully 
as  great.  This  was  the  greatest  cavalry  achievement  of 
the  war,  and  for  a  time  checked  the  advance  of  the  reb 
els  into  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania. 

I  only  notice  this  battle  in  this  place,  as  it  is  not  my 
object  to  bring  my  history  down  to  a  later  period  than 
June  1st,  1863. 

In  regard  to  the  battle  of  Beverly's  Ford,  Virginia, 
Major  General  Hooker  says  : 

"The  attack  was  made,  and  the  enemy  were  driven 
two  miles  before  Pleasanton,  at  Beverly's  Ford,  and  many 

O2 


322  History  of  the. 

prisoners  were  taken.  But  for  the  appearance  of  a  corps 
of  infantry,  of  which  I  had  no  knowledge,  General  Pleas- 
anton  would  have  succeeded  in  routing  their  entire  cav 
alry  force.  From  the  prisoners  taken,  I  learned  that  the 
whole  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  had  been  assembled  there. 
The  cavalry  from  North  Carolina  and  from  the  Shenan- 
doah  Valley  had  been  brought  in,  and  had  been  reviewed 
by  General  Lee,  whose  head-quarters  were  then  at  Cul- 
pepper,  preparatory  to  making  the  movement  which  fol 
lowed.  This  satisfied  me  that  it  was  more  than  a  raid ; 
that  an  invasion  was  contemplated.  As  a  full  account 
of  the  fight,  I  submit  the  following  from  General  Pleasan- 
ton,  and  my  reply  to  him  : 

[Cipher.] 

"  'Head-quarters  Cavalry,  Rappahannock  Station, •> 
June  9,  18G3,  10  45  P.M.  > 

"  '  Major  General  Hooker : 

"  '  A  short  time  after  my  last  dispatch  to  you,  General 
Gregg,  with  his  infantry  and  cavalry,  joined  me  about 
two  miles  from  the  river,  to  which  point  I  had  driven  the 
enemy.  He  reported  that  he  had  encountered  a  much 
superior  number  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  and  had  a  se 
vere  fight ;  also  that  a  train  of  cars  had  been  run  up  to 
Brandy  Station  filled  with  infantry,  who  opened  on  his 
men.  I  also  received  information  from  letters  and  offi 
cial  reports  captured  in  the  enemy's  camp,  as  well  as  from 
prisoners,  that  the  enemy  had  upward  of  twelve  thousand 
(12,000)  cavalry,  which  was  double  our  own  force  of 
cavalry,  and  twenty-five  (25)  pieces  of  artillery.  I  also 
learned  from  contrabands  and  prisoners  that  a  large  force 
of  infantry  had  been  sent  for  from  Culpepper,  as  well  as 


United  States  Cavalry.  323 

Longstreet's  command  at  Ellis's  Ford.  Having  crippled 
the  enemy  by  desperate  fighting,  so  that  he  could  not  fol 
low  me,  I  returned  with  my  command  to  the  north  side 
of  the  Kappahannock.  Gregg's  command  crossed  at  Kap- 
pahannock  Bridge.  To-morrow  morning  Stuart  was  to 
have  started  on  a  raid  into  Maryland — so  captured  papers 
state.  You  may  rest  satisfied  he  will  not  attempt  it.  Bu- 
ford's  cavalry  had  a  long  and  desperate  encounter,  hand 
to  hand,  with  the  enemy,  in  which  he  drove  back  before 
him,  handsomely,  very  superior  forces.  Over  two  hund 
red  prisoners  were  captured,  and  one  battle-flag.  The 
troops  are  in  splendid  spirits,  and  are  entitled  to  the  high 
est  praise  for  distinguished  conduct. 

" '  A.  PLEASANTON,  Brig.  Gen.  Commanding.' 

"June  10,  1863. 
"  Commanding  Officer,  Cavalry  Corps: 

"  I  am  not  so  certain  as  you  appear  to  be  that  the  en 
emy  will  abandon  his  contemplated  raid.  With  this  im 
pression  I  have  felt  a  little  hesitation  in  withdrawing  the 
infantry. 

"  Will  you  be  able  to  keep  him  from  crossing  the  river 
with  the  cavalry  and  batteries  with  you  ?  If  not,  and 
you  consider  that  the  infantry  will  be  of  service  in  pre 
venting  a  passage,  please  have  it  retained  until  farther 
orders.  I  desire  that  you  will  send  me  your  opinion  on 
this  subject. 

"  We  shall  be  able  to  send  up  to  you  one  thousand 
more  cavalry  to-morrow.  There  has  been  great  delay  in 
the  transmission  of  dispatches. 

"JOSEPH  HOOKER,  Maj.  Gen.  Commanding." 


324:  History  of  the 

First  Lieutenant  Isaac  M.  Ward,  of  the  6th  Cavalry, 
was  killed  in  this  battle,  and  First  Lieutenant  Ceesar  R 
Fisher,  of  the  1st  Cavalry,  died  on  the  21st  of  June,  1863, 
of  wounds  received  in  action  at  Ashby's  Gap,  Virginia. 

During  the  two  years  which  had  elapsed  since  the 
breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  several  officers  had  been 
killed  and  wounded  whose  names  have  not  been  given 
in  the  foregoing  pages.  On  the  2<ith  of  May,  1862,  at 
Middletown,  Virginia,  Major  Jonathan  P.  Cilley,  Captain 
Black  Hawk  Putnam,  and  Lieutenant  Llewellyn  G.Estes, 
all  of  the  1st  Maine  Cavalry,  were  wounded. 

First  Lieutenant  Alton  E.  Phillips,  of  the  1st  Massa 
chusetts  Cavalry,  was  killed  at  Eapidan  Station,Virginia, 
May  1st,  1863,  and  Lieutenant  Daniel  H.  L.  Gleason,  of 
the  same  regiment,  was  wounded  at  Sulphur  Springs, Vir 
ginia,  on  the  3d  of  June. 

Colonel  Warren  Stewart,  of  the  15th  Illinois  Cavalry, 
was  killed  in  a  skirmish  opposite  Vicksburg,  Mississippi, 
early  in  the  year  1863.  First  Lieutenant  Eichard  Burns, 
of  the  llth  Illinois  Cavalry,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Shiloh,  and  First  Lieutenant  Calvin  Terry,  of  the  2d  Illi 
nois  Cavalry,  was  killed  at  Union  City,  Tennessee,  in  Au 
gust,  1862. 

Captain  Albert  G.  Bacon,  of  the  3d  Kentucky  Cavalry, 
was  killed  at  Sacramento,  McLean  County,  Kentucky, 
December  28th,  1861 ;  Major  Charles  Milward,  of  the  7th 
Kentucky  Cavalry,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Eichmond, 
Kentucky,  August  23d,  1862 ;  and  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Gabriel  Netter,  of  the  15th  Kentucky  Cavalry,  was  killed 
at  Owensboro',  Kentucky,  September  19th.  1862. 


United  States  Cavalry.  325 

In  the  Missouri  Cavalry  regiments  there  were  many 
killed,  and  I  give  the  names  of  such  officers  as  have  been 
reported.  First  regiment,  Lieutenant  Charles  B!  Golden, 
mortally  wounded  at  Springfield,  Missouri,  February  16th, 
and  died  April  4th,  1862.  Second  regiment,  Major  George 
C.  Marshall,  killed  October,  1861 ;  Captain  J.  W.  Baird, 
killed  in  action,  September  6th,  1862  ;  First  Lieutenant 
Joseph  Y.  Myers,  killed.  Fourth  regiment,  Second  Lieu 
tenant  Edward  G.  Clowes,  killed  in  action  at  Sugar  Creek, 
Missouri,  March  7th,  1862.  Seventh  regiment,  Major 
Eliphalet  Bredett,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Prairie  Grove, 
Arkansas,  December  7th,  1862 ;  Second  Lieutenant  Al 
fred  M.  Baltzall,  killed  at  Lone  Jack ;  and  Second  Lieu 
tenant  S.  M.  Baker,  mortally  wounded  at  the  same  place, 
August  16th,  1862  (see  page  247).  Tenth  regiment,  Cap 
tain  Henry  G.  Bruns,  killed  in  Cornyn's  fight  near  luka, 
July  10th,  1863.  Captain  Gideon  T.  Potter,  of  Phelps's 
Missouri  Cavalry  regiment,  killed  at  the  battle  of  Pea 
Eidge. 

Second  Lieutenant  "William  J.  Phillips,  of  the  1st  "Wis 
consin  Cavalry,  was  killed  at  Chalk  Bluff,  Arkansas,  May 
loth,  1862. 

First  Lieutenant  Terence  P.  McEntee,  of  the  3d  Michi 
gan  Cavalry,  was  killed  in  action,  December  18th,  1862, 
and  Second  Lieutenant  Oscar  H.  Bingham,  of  the  same 
regiment,  was  killed  by  guerrillas  at  Jackson,  Tennessee, 
April  29th,  1863. 

In  the  Iowa  Cavalry  the  following  officers  were  killed 
and  wounded,  viz. :  First  regiment,  Lieutenant  Samuel 
C.  Dickinson,  killed  by  guerrillas  in  Arkansas,  October 
28th,  1862  ;  Captain  Herman  H.  Heath,  wounded  in  Mis- 


326  History  of  the 

souri,  August  1st,  1862.  Second  regiment,  Captains  Hen 
ry  Egbert  and  William  Lundy,  and  Lieutenant  Benjamin 
Owen,  were  wounded  in  the  charge  made  at  Farmington, 
Mississippi,  an  account  of  which  has  been  given  on  the 
234th  page.  Third  regiment,  Captain  Emanuel  Mayne, 
killed,  and  Captain  Jesse  Hughes  and  Mitchell  I.  Burcb, 
wounded,  near  Kirkville,  Calloway  County,  Missouri,  July 
28th,  1862  ;  Second  Lieutenant  Alvin  H.  Griswold,  killed 
at  Stewart's  Plantation,  Arkansas,  June  27th,  1862,  as 
mentioned  on  the  237th  page.  Fourth  regiment,  Second 
Lieutenant  William  A.  Heacock,  killed  at  Talbot's  Ferry, 
Arkansas,  April  19th,  1862.  Fifth  regiment,  Major  Carl 
S.  De  Bernstein,  killed  at  Lockridge's  Mills,  Tennessee, 
May  5th,  1862,  and  First  Lieutenant  Michael  Gallagher, 
killed  at  Garrettsburg,  Kentucky,  November  6th,  1862. 


United  States  Cavalry.  327 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

A  LIST  OF  CAVALRY  REGIMENTS  WHICH  HAVE  BEEN  IN  THE  SERVICE 
OF  THE  L'NITED  STATES  DURING  THE  GREAT  REBELLION,  WITH  THE 
NAMES  OF  THE  COLONELS  OR  COMMANDING  OFFICERS. 

REGULAR  ARMY  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES. 

1.  1st  Eegiment  Cavalry,  Colonel  George  A.  H.  Blake. 

2.  2d  Regiment  Cavalry,  Colonel  Thomas  J.  Wood. 

3.  3d  Regiment  Cavalry,  Colonel  Marshal  S.  Howe. 

4.  4th  Regiment  Cavalry,  Colonel  John  Sedgwick. 

5.  5th  Regiment  Cavalry,  Colonel  George  H.  Thomas. 

6.  6th  Regiment  Cavalry,  Colonel  David  Hunter. 

VOLUNTEERS. 
Maine. 

7.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  Charles  H.  Smith. 

8.  2d  Cavalry,  Colonel  E.  W.  Woodman. 

Neiu  Hampshire. 

9.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  John  L.  Thompson. 

Vermont. 

10.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  Lemuel  B.  Platt. 

Massachusetts. 

11.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  Horace  B.  Sargent. 


328  History  of  the 

12.  2d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Charles  K.  Lowell,  Jr. 

13.  3d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Thomas  E.  Chickering. 

Rhode  Island. 

14.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  Eobert  B.  Lawton. 

15.  2d  Cavalry,  Major  Augustus  W.  Corliss. 

Connecticut. 

16.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  Brayton  Ives. 

New  York. 

17.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  Andrew  T.  McReynolds. 

18.  2d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Henry  E.  Davis. 

19.  3d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Simon  H.  Mix. 

20.  4th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Louis  P.  di  Cesnola. 

21.  5th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Othniel  De  Forest. 

22.  6th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Thomas  C.  Devin. 

23.  7th  Cavalry,  Colonel  J.  Mansfield  Davies. 

24.  8th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Benjamin  F.  Davis. 

25.  9th  Cavalry,  Colonel  John  Beardsley. 

26.  10th  Cavalry,  Colonel  John  C.  Lemmon. 

27.  llth  Cavalry,  Colonel  James  B.  Swain. 

28.  12th  Cavalry,  Colonel  James  W.  Savage. 

29.  13th  Cavalry,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Henry  S.  Ganse- 

voort. 

30.  14th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Thaddeus  P.  Mott. 

31.  15th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Robert  M.  Richardson. 

32.  16th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Henry  M.  Lazelle. 

33.  18th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Joseph  J.  Byrne. 

34.  19th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Alfred  Gibbs. 

35.  20th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Newton  B.  Lord. 


United  States  Cavalry.  329 

36.  21st  Cavalry,  Colonel  William  B.  Tibbetts. 

37.  22d  Cavalry,  Colonel  George  C.  Cram. 

38.  24th  Cavalry,  Colonel  William  C.  Eaulston. 

39.  25th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Garden  Chapin. 

40.  1st  K  Y.  Mounted  Eifles,  Colonel  Edwin  V.  Summer. 

41.  2d  N.  Y.  Mounted  Kifles,  Colonel  John  Fisk. 

New  Jersey. 

42.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  Percy  Wyndham. 

43.  2d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Joseph  Karge. 

Pennsylvania. 

44.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  John  P.  Taylor. 

45.  2d  Cavalry,  Colonel  E.  Butler  Price. 

46.  3d  Cavalry,  Colonel  John  B.  Mclntosh. 

47.  4th  Cavalry,  Colonel  James  K.  Kerr. 

48.  5th  Cavalry,  Lieutenant  Colonel  William  Lewis. 

49.  6th  Cavalry,  Lieutenant  Colonel  James  Me  Arthur. 

50.  7th  Cavalry,  Colonel  William  B.  Sipes. 

51.  8th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Pennock  Huey. 

52.  9th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Thomas  J.  Jordan. 

53.  llth  Cavalry,  Colonel  Samuel  P.  Spear. 

54.  12th  Cavalry,  Colonel  L.  B.  Pierce. 

55.  13th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Garuck  Mallery. 

56.  14th  Cavalry,  Colonel  J.  M.  Schoonmaker. 

57.  15th  Cavalry,  Colonel  William  J.  Palmer. 
58. 16th  Cavalry,  Colonel  J.  Irvine  Gregg. 

59.  17th  Cavalry,  Colonel  J.  H.  Kellogg. 

60.  18th  Cavalry,  Colonel  T.  M.  Bryan,  Jr. 

61.  19th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Alexander  Cummings. 

62.  20th  Cavalry,  Colonel  John  E.  Wynkoop. 


330  History  of  the 

63.  21st  Cavalry,  Colonel  William  H.  Boyd. 
64  22d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Jacob  Higgins. 

Delaware. 

65.  1st  Battalion  Cavalry,  Major  K  B.  Knight. 

Maryland. 

66.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  Andrew  W.  Evans. 

67.  2d  Cavalry,  Captain  W.  F.  Bragg. 

68.  3d  Cavalry,  Lieutenant  Colonel  C.  Carroll  Trevis. 

69.  Battalion  Potomac   Home  Brigade   Cavalry,  Major 

Henry  A.  Cole. 

70.  Battalion  Purnell  Cavalry,  Captain  Eobert  E.  Duvall. 

71.  Independent  Cavalry  Company,  Captain  Gr.  "W.  P. 
'  Smith. 

West  Virginia. 

72.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  H.  Anisansel. 

73.  2d  Cavalry,  Colonel  William  H.  Powell. 

74.  3d  Cavalry,  Colonel  David  H.  Strother. 

75.  4th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Joseph  Snider. 

Alabama. 

76.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  George  E.  Spencer. 

Texas. 

77.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  Edward  J.  Davis. 

Arkansas. 

78.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  M.  La  Eue  Harrison. 

79.  2d  Cavalry,  Colonel  John  E.  Phelps. 


United  States  Cavalry.  331 

Tennessee. 

80.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  James  P.  Brownlow. 
p81.  2d  Cavalry,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Prosser. 

82.  3d  Cavalry,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Thornberg. 

83.  4th  Cavalry,  Lieutenant  Colonel  J.  Thornberg. 
84  5th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Stokes. 

85.  6th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Hurst. 

86.  7th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Hawkins. 

87.  8th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Patton. 

88.  9th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Parsons. 

89.  10th  Cavalry,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Bridges. 

90.  llth  Cavalry,  Colonel  Young. 

91.  12th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Spaulding. 

92.  13th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Miller. 

Kentucky. 

93.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  Frank  TVolford. 

94.  2d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Thomas  P.  Nicholas. 

95.  3d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Eli  H.  Murray. 

96.  4th  Cavalry,  Colonel  TVickliffe  Cooper. 

97.  5th  Cavalry,  Colonel  0.  L.  Baldwin. 

98.  6th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Louis  D.  TVatkins. 

99.  7th  Cavalry,  Colonel  John  K.  Faulkner. 

100.  8th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Ben.  H.  Bristow. 

101.  9th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Eichard  T.  Jacob. 

102.  10th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Charles  J.  Walker. 

103.  llth  Cavalry,  Colonel  A.  TV.  Holman. 

104.  12th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Eugene  TV.  Crittenden. 

105.  13th  Cavalry,  Colonel  James  TV.  TVeatherford. 

106.  14th  Cavalry,  Colonel  H.  C.  Lilly. 

107.  15th  Cavalry,  Lieutenant  Colonel  A.  P.  Henry. 

108.  17th  Cavalry,  Colonel  S.  F.  Johnson. 


332  History  of  the 

Ohio. 

109.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  B.  B.  Eggleston. 

110.  2d  Cavalry,  Colonel  August  V.  Kautz. 

111.  3d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Charles  B.  Seidell. 

112.  4th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Eli  Long. 

113.  5th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Thomas  T.  Heath. 

114.  6th  Cavalry,  Lieutenant  Colonel  William  Steadman. 

115.  7th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Israel  Garrard. 

116.  8th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Wesley  Owens. 

117.  9th  Cavalry,  Colonel  William  D.  Hamilton. 

118.  10th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Charles  C.  Smith. 

119.  llth  Cavalry, Lieutenant  Colonel  William  O.Collins. 

120.  12th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Kobert  W.  Ratliff. 

121.  Independent  Battalion   Cavalry,  Major  Joseph  T. 
Wheeler. 

122.  Independent  Battalion  Cavalry,  Major  John  F.  Ijams. 

Michigan. 

123.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  Peter  Stagg. 

124.  2d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Thomas  W.  Johnson. 

125.  3d  Cavalry,  Colonel  John  K.  Mizner. 

126.  4th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Robert  II.  G.  Minty. 

127.  5th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Smith  II.  Hastings. 

128.  6th  Cavalry,  Colonel  James  II.  Kidd. 

129.  7th  Cavalry,  Lieutenant  Colonel  George  G.  Briggs. 

130.  8th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Elisha  Mix. 

131.  9th  Cavalry,  Colonel  George  S.  Acker. 

132.  10th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Luther  S.  Trowbridge. 

133.  llth  Cavalry,  Colonel  Simeon  B.  Brown. 

Indiana. 

134.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  Conrad  Baker. 


United  States  Cavalry.  333 

135.  2d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Edward  M.  McCook. 

136.  3d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Scott  Carter. 

137.  4th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Isaac  P.  Gray. 

138.  oth  Cavalry,  Colonel  Felix  W.  Graham. 

139.  6th  Cavalry,  Colonel  James  Biddle. 

140.  7th  Cavalry,  Colonel  John  P.  C.  Shanks. 

141.  8th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Thomas  J.  Harrison. 

142.  9th  Cavalry,  Colonel  George  TV.  Jackson. 

143.  10th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Thomas  K  Pace. 

144.  llth  Cavalry,  Colonel  Eobert  E.  Stewart. 

145.  12th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Edward  Anderson. 

146.  13th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Gilbert  M.  L.  Johnson. 

Illinois. 

147.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  Thomas  A.  Marshall. 

148.  2d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Silas  Noble. 

149.  3d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Lafayette  McCrillis. 

150.  4th  Cavalry,  Colonel  T.  Lyle  Dickey. 

151.  5th  Cavalry,  Colonel  J.  Hall  "Wilson. 

152.  6th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Benjamin  H.  Grierson. 

153.  7th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Edward  Prince. 

154.  8th  Cavalry,  Colonel  D.  E.  Clendenin. 

155.  9th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Albert  G.  Brackett. 

156.  10th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Dudley  Wickersham. 

157.  llth  Cavalry,  Colonel  Eobert  G.  Ingersoll. 

158.  12th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Hasbrouck  Davis. 

159.  13th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Joseph  W.  Bell. 

160.  14th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Horace  Capron. 

161.  15th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Warren  Stewart. 

162.  16th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Eobert  W.  Smith. 

163.  17th  Cavalry,  Colonel  John  L.  Beveridge. 


334  History  of  the 

Missouri. 

164.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  John  R  Eitter. 

165.  2d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Lewis  Merrill. 

166.  3d  Cavalry,  Colonel  John  M.  Glover. 

167.  4th  Cavalry,  Colonel  George  E.  Waring,  Jr. 

168.  5th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Joseph  JSTemitt. 

169.  6th  Cavalry,  Major  Bacon  Montgomery. 

170.  7th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Daniel  Huston,  Jr. 

171.  8th  Cavalry,  Colonel  W.  F.  Geiger. 

172.  10th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Florence  M.  Cornyn. 

173.  llth  Cavalry,  Colonel  William  D.  Wood. 

174.  12th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Oliver  Wells. 

175.  1st  Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  Colonel  James 
B.  McFarren. 

176.  2d  Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  Colonel  John  Mc- 
Neill. 

177.  3d  Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  Colonel  Walter 
King. 

178.  4th  Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  Colonel  George 
H.  Hall. 

179.  5th  Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  Colonel  William 
E.  Pennick. 

180.  6th  Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  Colonel  E.  C. 
Catherwood. 

181.  7th  Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  Colonel  John  F. 
Phillips. 

182.  8th  Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  Colonel  J.  W. 
McClurg. 

183.  9th  Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  Colonel  Odon 
Guitar. 

184.  10th  Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  Colonel  Edwin 
Smart. 


United  States  Cavalry.  335 

185.  12th  Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  Lieutenant  Col 
onel  B.  F.  Lazear. 

186.  13th  Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  Colonel  Albert 
Sigel. 

187.  14th  Missouri  State  Militia  Cavalry,  Colonel  John 
M.  Kichardson. 

Iowa. 

188.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  D.  Anderson. 

189.  2d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Edward  Hatch. 

190.  3d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Cyrus  Bussey. 

191.  4th  Cavalry,  Colonel  E.  Winslow. 

192.  5th  Cavalry,  Colonel  William  W.  Lowe. 

193.  6th  Cavalry,  Colonel  David  S.  Wilson. 

194.  7th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Samuel  W.  Summers. 

195.  8th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Joseph  B.  Dorr. 

196.  9th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Matthew  M.  Trumbull. 

Wisconsin.  l 

197.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  O.  H.  La  Grange. 

198.  2d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Thomas  Stevens. 

199.  3d  Cavalry,  Colonel  William  A.  Barstow. 

200.  4th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Joseph  Bailey. 

Minnesota. 

201.  1st  Battalion  Cavalry,  Major  Alfred  B.  Brackett. 

202.  1st  Eegiment  Cavalry,  Colonel  Samuel  McPhail. 

Kansas. 

203.  2d  Cavalry,  Lieutenant  Colonel  O.  A.  Bassett. 

204.  5th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Powell  Clayton. 


336  History  of  the 

205.' 6th  Cavalry,  Colonel  William  R  Judson. 

206.  7th  Cavalry,  Colonel  T.  P.  Herrick. 

207.  9th  Cavalry,  Colonel  Ed.  Lynde. 

208.  llth  Cavalry,  Major  P.  B.  Plumb. 

209.  14th  Cavalry,  Major  Thomas  Moonlight. 

210.  15th  Cavalry,  Colonel  C.  E.  Jennison. 

California. 

211.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  Oscar  M.  Brown. 

212.  2d  Cavalry,  Colonel  William  Jones. 

213.  1st  Battalion  Native  California  Cavalry,  Major  Sal 
vador  Vallejo. 

Oregon. 

214.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  Keuben  F.  Maury. 

Colorado. 

215.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  John  M.  Chivington. 

Nebraska. 

216.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  E.  E.  Livingston. 

Nevada. 

217.  1st  Battalion  Cavalry,  Captain  Elias  B.  Zabriskie. 

New  Mexico. 

218.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  Christopher  Carson. 

219.  2d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Miguel  Valdez. 

220.  3d  Cavalry,  Colonel  Jose  G.  Gallegos. 

District  of  Columbia. 

221.  1st  Cavalry,  Colonel  Baker. 


United  States  Cavalry.  337 

UNITED  'STATES   COLOEED   CAVALRY. 

222.  1st  United  States  Colored  Cavalry,  Colonel 

223.  2d  United  States  Colored  Cavalry,  Colonel  James  H. 
Ford. 

224.  3d  United  States  Colored  Cavalry,  Colonel  E.  D.  Os- 
band. 

225.  4th  United  States  Colored  Cavalry,  Colonel  — 

226.  5th  United  States  Colored  Cavalry,  Colonel  James 
S.  Brisbin. 

227.  6th  United  States  Colored  Cavalry,  Colonel  James 
F.  Wade. 


In  addition  to  these  cavalry  regiments,  there  were  a 
number  of  mounted  infantry  regiments,  which  did  excel 
lent  service  in  the  rebellion,  and  were,  to  all  intents  and 
purposes,  cavalry. 

P 


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